breakfast table, having pushed his plate and cup away from him.

'Father and mother,' he said, 'I have been looking at two opposite
goals. On one side there is--what people usually strive for--honour,
pleasure, a high place in the world's regard. If I seek that, I know
what I have to do. I suppose it is what you want me to do. I should
distinguish myself, if I can; climb the heights of greatness; make
myself a name, and a place, and then live there, as much above the rest
of the world as I can, and enjoying all the advantages of my position.
That is about what I thought I would do when I went to Oxford. It is a
career bounded by this world, and ended when one quits it. You ask why
it is impossible to do this and the other thing too? Just look at it.
If I become a servant of Christ, I give up seeking earthly honour; I do
not live for my own pleasure; I apply all I have, of talents or means
or influence, to doing the will of a Master whose kingdom is not of
this world, and whose ways are not liked by the world. I see very
plainly what His commands are, and they bid one be unlike the world and
separate from it. Do you see the impossibility I spoke of?'

'But, my dear,' said Mrs. Dallas eagerly, 'you exaggerate things.'

'Which things, mother?'

'It is not necessary for you to be unlike the world; that is
extravagance.'

Pitt rose, went to the table, where a large family Bible and Book of
Common Prayer lay, and fetched the Bible to the breakfast-table. During
which procedure Mr. Dallas shoved his chair round again, to gain his
former position, and Mrs. Dallas passed her hand over her eyes once or
twice, with her a gesture of extreme disturbance. Pitt brought his
book, opened it on the table before him, and after a little turning of
the leaves stopped and read the following:

'"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore
the world hateth you."'

'Yes, _at that time_,' said Mrs. Dallas eagerly,--'at that time. Then
the heathen made great opposition. All that is past now.'

'Was it only the heathen, mother?'

'Well, the Jews, of course. They were as bad.'

'Why were they? Just for this reason, that they loved the praise of men
more than the praise of God. They chose this world. But the apostle
James,--here it is,--he wrote:

'"Whosoever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God."'

'Wouldn't you then be a fr