ever! Desert, if you will, the majestic, bright, beneficent traditions
of your forefathers, and live in this frightful superstition! Farewell!"

He did not seem better pleased with Aristo than with Callista, though
Aristo helped him into his litter, walked by his side, and did what he
could to propitiate him.

CHAPTER XXIX.

CONVERSION.

If there is a state of mind utterly forlorn, it is that in which we left
the poor prisoner after Polemo had departed. She was neither a Christian,
nor was she not. She was in the midway region of inquiry, which as surely
takes time to pass over, except there be some almost miraculous
interference, as it takes time to walk from place to place. You see a
person coming towards you, and you say, impatiently, "Why don't you come
faster?--why are you not here already?" Why?--because it takes time. To see
that heathenism is false,--to see that Christianity is true,--are two acts,
and involve two processes. They may indeed be united, and the truth may
supplant the error; but they may not. Callista obeyed, as far as truth was
brought home to her. She saw the vanity of idols before she had faith in
Him who came to destroy them. She could safely say, "I discard Jupiter:"
she could not say, "I am a Christian." Besides, what did she know of
Christians? How did she know that they would admit her, if she wished it?
They were a secret society, with an election, an initiation, and
oaths;--not a mere philosophical school, or a profession of opinion, open
to any individual. If they were the good people that she fancied them to
be,--and if they were not, she would not think of them at all,--they were
not likely to accept of her.

Still, though we may account for her conduct, its issue was not, on that
account, the less painful. She had neither the promise of this world, nor
of the next, and was losing earth without gaining heaven. Our Lord is
reported to have said, "Be ye good money-changers." Poor Callista did not
know how to turn herself to account. It had been so all through her short
life. She had ardent affections, and keen sensibilities, and high
aspirations; but she was not fortunate in the application of them. She had
put herself into her brother's hands, and had let him direct her course.
It could not be expected that he would be very different from the world.
We are cautioned against "rejoicing in our youth." Aristo rejo