a little late for breakfast, paused in the hall and looked at
the hat. Entering the dining-room he took a long stare at his friend.

"Major," he said, "you're a wonderful man. I had forgotten how
wonderful you are. Now that I am getting to know you again I am struck
dumb with absolute amazement."

The Major was uneasily conscious that his attire was in strong contrast
to Meldon's shabby jacket and wrinkled trousers.

"I don't suppose," said Meldon, "that there's another man in the whole
world who could go on dressing himself up like that Sunday after Sunday
in a place like Ballymoy. However, the habit will turn out beneficial
for once. I expect you'll produce an excellent effect on Miss King."

"I was thinking over that plan of yours last night," said the Major,
"and--"

"I was under the impression that I distinctly told you not to think.
There's not the slightest necessity for you to exert yourself in that
way; and besides, so far as I know, you invariably think wrong.
However, if you really have thought, you'd better get the result off
your chest at once."

"It occurred to me--" said the Major.

"That's not quite the same thing as thinking. I don't blame you so
much, now that I know that the thing, whatever it is, merely occurred
to you. No man can be held responsible for the things that occur to
him. There was one of the ancient Egyptian hermits who made a very
sensible remark on that subject. You'll find it in Migne's 'Patrologia
Latina,' in the volume which contains the 'Verba Seniorum.' I can't
quote the exact words at the moment, but they are to this effect: 'If
you can't stop the wind from blowing, neither can you prevent evil
thoughts from entering your mind.' I daresay the thing that occurred
to you wasn't actually evil in the sense which the hermit meant, but it
is pretty sure to have been foolish; and that, for all practical
purposes, is the same thing. By the way, this is excellent bacon;
quite the best I've tasted for a long time. Does Doyle supply it?"

"No; I get it down from Dublin. But about that plan of yours. It
occurs to me that Miss King is not likely to be in church."

"Of course she'll be in church. Why shouldn't she?"

"Well, if she's a disciple of that man you were speaking about last
night, she can hardly be what's generally called a Christian, can she?"

"Of course not. But she'll come to church just the same."

"But surely-- Not if she doesn't believe in Christ