Solitary Island, Chapters IV-V [pp. 358-379]

I 884.J SOAlTAR Y JSLAArD. 375
"0 yes! it does one good to meet a great person, I think;
but, then, they needn't be all bookish folks. There are great
people in the garrets and cellars of a big city, an' in the workshops."
"You were never in a great city," said she, and repented of
the words immediately, for she did not see how much like a
question it was until it was uttered. "Pray do not answer that,"
she broke in. "It was not meant to pry into your affairs. It
was an accident. But what do you think? Is it wise for me to
go? I have won a little fame by writing, and I would so like to
know great minds. Then there are great doctors of theology
and eminent Catholics there. Who knows but that I might get
some light from them."
He shook his head, and smiled a little..,
"I understand," said she. "I know to what you refer. Well,
I have prayed and prayed, and yet light will not come. I have
tried to be content with Methodism and I can't, nor can I find
rest in any other faith."
"It is a time of doubt with you," said the hermit, "and that
means change. I dunno as great minds`ill help ye much; mostly
it's the little minds do God's work, an' bring peace an rest."
"Well, I'll visit the garrets and cellars, and hunt up little
minds, and see the great people too."
"Them fine wn'ters an' thinkers," said Scott senously, "have.
a mighty high opinion o' themselves, an' look at a religion pretty
often in queer ways. They kind o' handle it as a jew'ler handles
a watch. They've got the secret o' the thing, an' don't think
much of it. They give ye a doubt about it sometimes, unless ye
get the`umble ones, that thinks more o' their neighbor than they
do o' themselves. I've met some of`em fish in', an' they were too
green for anything. They didn't like to be told so, either."
"`f hen, would you say go, Scott?" she persisted.
"Would I say go? Well, if great minds is the only trouble,
an' religion, why, yes, go."
Somehow she was not so satisfied with his answer, and sat
staring into the fire, wondering. Was there anything else that
should trouble her save religion and the great minds? There
was the rush and whirl of polite society, but it never could entangle her, and then-Florian. She looked at Scott. He was
reading Walton, and Mrs. ~Vinifred was watching him shyly as a
curiosity. Why should he have put in the if? Did he think the
old trouble would begin again? She was not afraid of herself;
but then what security was there for Florian? She had often