THE JOKE IS COMPLETED Michael Snowdon--to distinguish the old man by name from the son who thus unexpectedly returned to him--professed no formal religion.

He attended no Sunday service, nor had ever shown a wish that Jane should do so.

We have seen that he used the Bible as a source of moral instruction; Jane and he still read passages together on a Sunday morning, but only such were chosen as had a purely human significance, and the comments to which they gave occasion never had any but a human bearing.

Doubtless Jane reflected on these things; it was her grandfather's purpose to lead her to such reflection, without himself dogmatising on questions which from his own point of view were unimportant.

That Jane should possess the religious spirit was a desire he never lost sight of; the single purpose of his life was involved therein; but formalism was against the bent of his nature.