I enjoy
that pelting of spring rain against the window. In a minute or two we shall have
the laurels flashing in the sunshine, as if they were hung with diamonds.«
    They stood together looking out on to the garden. Presently their talk
returned to the German disquisition, which was directed against the class of
quasi-scientific authors attacked by Peak himself in his Critical article. In
the end Godwin sat down and began to read the translation he had made, Mr.
Warricombe listening with a thoughtful smile. From time to time the reader
paused and offered a comment, endeavouring to show that the arguments were
merely plausible; his air was that of placid security, and he seemed to enjoy
the irony which often fell from his lips. Martin frequently scrutinised him, and
always with a look of interest which betokened grave reflection.
    »Here,« said Godwin at one point, »he has a note citing a passage from
Reusch's book on The Bible and Nature. If I am not mistaken, he misrepresents
his author, though perhaps not intentionally.«
    »You know the book?«
    »I have studied it carefully, but I don't possess it. I thought I remembered
this particular passage very well.«
    »Is it a work of authority?«
    »Yes; it is very important. Unfortunately, it hasn't yet been translated.
Rather bulky, but I shouldn't mind doing it myself if I were sure of finding a
publisher.«
    »The Bible and Nature,« said Martin, musingly. »What is his scheme? How does
he go to work?«
    Godwin gave a brief but lucid description of the book, and Mr. Warricombe
listened gravely. When there had been silence for some moments, the latter spoke
in a tone he had never yet used when conversing with Peak. He allowed himself,
for the first time, to betray a troubled doubt on the subject under discussion.
    »So he makes a stand at Darwinism as it affects man?«
    Peak had yet no means of knowing at what point Martin himself made a stand.
Modes of reconcilement between scientific discovery and religious tradition are
so very numerous, and the geologist was only now beginning to touch upon these
topics with his young acquaintance. That his mind was not perfectly at ease amid
the conflicts of the day, Godwin soon perceived, and by this time he had clear
assurance that Martin would willingly thrash out the whole debate with anyone
who seemed capable of supporting orthodox tenets by reasoning not unacceptable
to a man of broad views. The negativist of course assumed from