"Well how that, Mr. Southwode?"
"And if eating and drinking, then the houses in which we a.s.semble, and the tables at which we sit down."
"Yes, but you are going a little faster than I can follow," said Rotha.
"In the first place, it seems to me that people in general do not think as you do."
"I told you so."
"Hardly anybody."
"Hardly anybody!"
"Then, is it not possible--"
"That I am straining the point? You have read the Bible testimony yourself; what do you think?"
Rotha was silent. Could all the Christian world, almost all of it, be wrong, and only Mr. Southwode right? Was the rule indeed to be drawn so close? She doubted. The Bible words, to be sure,--but then, why did not others see them too?
"Read Rom. xii. 1, again."
Rotha read it, and looked up in silence. Mr. Southwode"s face wore a slight smile. He did not look, she thought, like a man who felt the poorer for what he had given up.
"Well?--" said he.
"Well. I have read this often," said Rotha. "I know the words."
"Have you obeyed them?"
"I--do--not--know. I am afraid, not."
"When a man has given his body a living sacrifice, has he anything left to give beside?"
"Why not?"
"Think. In that case, his hands are his Master"s. They cannot do anything inconsistent with his use of them, or interrupting it, or hindering it.
All they do will be, indirectly or directly, for Him."
"Yes--" said Rotha. "But nothing for himself, then?"
"Anything, that will fit him for service, or help him in it."
"But for instance. I am very fond of fancy work," said Rotha.
"Useless fancy work?"
"I am afraid you would call it so."
"Never mind what I call it," said Mr. Southwode, laughing a little; for Rotha"s frankness and directness were delightful;--"I am not skilled in fancy work, and I speak in ignorance. What do you call it?"
"Some of it is not of any use," Rotha said thoughtfully; "it is just a putting together of lovely colours. Of course, people must have mats and rugs and cushions and things; and it is pretty work to make them; but they could be bought cheaper, what would do just as well."
"Then the question rises, in view of all these pretty things,--Is it the best use I can make of my time and my money?"
Rotha"s fingers drummed upon the table.
"But one must have amus.e.m.e.nt," she said. "One cannot be always studying."
"Quite true. The question remains, whether this is the best amus.e.m.e.nt to be had."
"I give that up," said Rotha. "I see what you think."
"Never mind what I think--for once," said he smiling. "Try the question on its own merits."
"I give that up," Rotha repeated. "Except for odds and ends of chances, it does take a fearful amount of time, and money too. But go on, Mr.
Digby; I am getting dreadfully interested."
"You can go on without my help."
"But I want it. Please go on."
"You can transfer to eyes and ears and lips and feet what I have said about hands. All would be the Lord"s servants. Have I anything else left to give, if I have once given my body a living sacrifice?"
"No. Nothing. But why did I never see that before?"
"What do you think of it, now you do see it?"
"It is grand!" said the girl thoughtfully. "And beautiful. Such a life would be woven all of golden threads. But Mr. Southwode, it would make one different from everybody else in the whole world!"
"Did not Jesus say? "Ye are not of the world, _even as I am not of the world_." And--"Therefore the world hateth you.""
"Yes,--" said Rotha slowly--"I see."
"How would you furnish a house, on this principle?" Mr. Southwode went on.
"A house?" Rotha repeated.
"Yes. Suppose the old house at Southwode was to be refurnished; how should we do it? I would like to have everything there please you."
"But on your principle," said Rotha, colouring beautifully, though she laughed, "you would not arrange it to please me at all."
"If my principle were your principle?"--he said with a flash in his eye which was part pleasure and part amus.e.m.e.nt.
"I never considered the subject," she said shyly.
"Well let us consider it. What are the points to be princ.i.p.ally regarded, in furnishing a house?"
Rotha pondered, a good deal amused; this whole discussion was so novel to her. "I suppose," she said, "one ought to aim at a good appearance-- according to one"s means,--and the comfort of the family that are to live in the house,--and prettiness,--and pleasantness."
"And the Lord"s service?"