hought he was at his wit's end.

Not quite: he was cudgelling his brains in search of some horribly
unscientific argument, that might prevail; for he felt science would
fall dead upon so fair an antagonist. At last his eye kindled; he had
hit on an argument unscientific enough for anybody, he thought. Said he,
ingratiatingly, "You believe the Old Testament?"

"Of course I do, every syllable."

"And the lessons it teaches?"

"Certainly!"

"Then let me tell you a story from that book. A Syrian general had a
terrible disease. He consulted Elisha by deputy. Elisha said, 'Bathe
seven times in a certain river, Jordan, and you will get well.' The
general did not like this at all; he wanted a prescription; wanted to
go to the druggist; didn't believe in hydropathy to begin, and, in any
case, turned up his nose at Jordan. What! bathe in an Israelitish
brook, when his own country boasted noble rivers, with a reputation for
sanctity into the bargain? In short, he preferred his leprosy to such
irregular medicine. But it happened, by some immense fortuity, that
one of his servants, though an Oriental, was a friend, instead of a
flatterer; and this sensible fellow said, 'If the prophet told you to do
some great and difficult thing, to get rid of this fearful malady, would
not you do it, however distasteful? and can you hesitate when he merely
says, Wash in the Jordan, and be healed?' The general listened to
good sense, and cured himself. Your case is parallel. You would take
quantities of foul medicine; you would submit to some painful operation,
if life and health depended on it; then why not do a small thing for
a great result? You have only to take off an unnatural machine which
cripples your growing frame, and was unknown to every one of the
women whose forms in Parian marble the world admires. Off with that
monstrosity, and your cure is as certain as the Syrian general's; though
science, and not inspiration, dictates the easy remedy."

Rosa had listened impatiently, and now replied with some warmth, "This
is shockingly profane. The idea of comparing yourself to Elisha, and me
to a horrid leper! Much obliged! Not that I know what a leper is."

"Come, come! that is not fair," said Mr. Lusignan. "He only compared the
situation, not the people."

"But, papa, the Bible is not to be dragged into the common affairs of
life."

"Then what on earth is the use of it?"

"Oh, papa! Well, it is not Sunday, but I have had a sermon.