"Well, no," replied the missionary, "not exactly. You're not a very
lovable object to look at just now. Nevertheless, I _am_ anxious about
your soul _at first sight_. I can't tell how it is, but so it is."

"Come, now," said Ned, becoming suddenly stern. "I don't believe in
your religion, or your Bible, or your prayin' and psalm-singin'. I tell
you plainly, I'm a infidel. But if you can say anything in favour o'
your views, fire away; I'll listen, only don't let me have any o' your
sing-songin' or whinin', else I'll kick you down the trap-door and down
the stair an' up the court and out into the street--speak out, like a
man."

"I will speak as God the Holy Spirit shall enable me," returned the
missionary, without the slightest change in tone or manner.

"Well, then, sit down," said Ned, pointing to the only chair in the
room, while he seated himself on the rickety table, which threatened to
give way altogether, while the reckless man swung his right leg to and
fro quite regardless of its complainings.

"Have you ever studied the Bible?" asked the missionary, somewhat
abruptly.

"Well, no, of course not. I'm not a parson, but I have read a bit here
and there, an' it's all rubbish. I don't believe a word of it."

"There's a part of it," returned the visitor, "which says that God
maketh his rain to fall on the just and on the unjust. Do you not
believe that?"

"Of course I do. A man can't help believin' that, for he sees it--it
falls on houses, fields, birds and beasts as well."

"Then you _do_ believe a word of it?"

"Oh! come, you're a deal too sharp. You know what I mean."

"No," said his visitor, quickly, "I don't quite know what you mean. One
who professes to be an infidel professes more or less intelligent
disbelief in the Bible, yet you admit that you have never studied the
book which you profess to disbelieve--much less, I suppose, have you
studied the books which give us the evidences of its truth."

"Don't suppose, Mr parson, or missioner, or whatever you are," said
Ned, "that you're goin' to floor me wi' your larnin'. I'm too old a
bird for that. Do you suppose that I'm bound to study everything on the
face o' the earth like a lawyer before I'm entitled to say I don't
believe it. If I see that a thing don't work well, that's enough for me
to condemn it."

"You're quite right there. I quite go with that line of reasoning. By
their fruits shall ye know them. A man don't usually go