fred right
on this matter. We cannot let her go on in such a mistake. Where will
it lead to?" and with real distress she considered the calamity of her
beautiful daughter's withdrawal from society, and the dashing her own
fond pride to the ground.

Mr. Gray had been listening thoughtfully. Now, being appealed to, he
spoke.

"To tell the truth, mother," he said, "I do not think the idea quite so
extraordinary as you do. When I was a boy, where I lived, if young
people were converted it made all sorts of difference as to the things
they did and the places they went to. We didn't expect to see them at
dances, or at the theater, or any such places. If we did, everybody
reckoned that they had backslidden. Those things were called
'worldly.' We have almost lost the word now, but it must be
descriptive of something, I should say. If Winifred instinctively
takes a stand against such things, without being talked to about it, I
shall think it is the old sort of religion that she has somehow
discovered, and shall not be sorry. I would really prefer it to be a
kind that can be distinguished without reference to the church records.
That variety is scarce enough, in all conscience!"

Winifred was surprised at her father's defense, and it unnerved her.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she nearly choked over the coffee with
which she sought to hide her quivering lips. Hubert looked gratefully
at his father. Mrs. Gray looked much depressed. She expected wise
words of reproach that would settle the matter with Winifred and
perhaps save much trouble in the future. And now he really inclined to
her view of the case! It was disappointing. But men, after all, did
not always see social matters as women did. She was not accustomed to
arguing with her husband, but this case required more resistance than
usual.

"I am surprised, father," she said sorrowfully, "to hear you put it
that way. I do not think you can realize what it means for a young
woman to drop out of society. And I do not see how you can compare
those times you speak of with the present. I am sure Doctor Schoolman
frequently tells us what remarkable advance we have made over those
times in every way. I hope you do not wish to go backward!" and Mrs.
Gray felt a little flutter of triumph at her own unusual skill in
argument. Nobody responded at once and she gathered courage to go on.

"I quite agree with that young man who spoke at our church in behalf of
t