areful not to wound the conscience of those who would have been unable
to understand the ground of his arguments, even when they could not
resist their logical statement; and in whom long custom was so
inveterate that the weed of system could not be torn out of their hearts
without endangering the flower of belief. With men like Hazlet--I mean
the reformed and now sincere Hazlet--he either confined himself wholly
to subjects on which differences were impossible, or, if questioned,
stated his views with caution and consideration. It was only with the
noisy and violent upholders of long-grounded error--error which they
were too feeble to maintain except by mean invective or ignorant
declamation--that Julian used the keen edge of his sarcasm, or the
weighty sword of his moral indignation. He was not the man to bow down
before the fool's-cap of tyrannous and blatant ignorance. If he could
have chosen one utterance from the holy Scriptures, which to him was
more precious in its full meaning than another, it was that promise,
rich with inexhaustible blessing, "And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free."

Perhaps there is no greater want in this age than a full, fair,
_fearless_ religio clerici; the men who _could_ write it, dare not; and
the men who dare write it, cannot. They say the age is not ripe for it;
and if they mean that it would cause violent offence to the potent
rulers of fashionable religious dogmatism, they are right. But I wander
from my theme, and meddle with the subjects which this is not the place
to touch upon.

The close of Julian's undergraduate life was as honourable as its
promise had been. He obtained a brilliant first class, and was
bracketed with Owen as the best classic of his year. Lillyston also
distinguished himself, and all three determined to read for Fellowships,
which, before a year was over, they had the honour to obtain.

Meanwhile a circumstance had happened which changed the course of
Kennedy's intentions. After his conversation with Violet, he had often
thought of his plans for the future, and written to her about them.
Reconciled to the plan, of returning to Camford after the year of his
rustication, he was now trying to settle his future profession. His way
seemed by no means clear; he had never thought of being a clergyman, and
now, more than ever, deemed himself unfitted for such a life. The long
tedious delay of the bar to a man without any special