Then he waited for the manifestation of God in Helen's soul: he distrusted himself and his own strength, but he never doubted God; he never questioned that this plan for converting his wife was a direct answer to his prayers.
Now, when he saw Dr.Howe, he had a moment of breathless hope that her uncle had come to tell him that Helen had found the truth.

But almost before the unreasonableness of his idea struck him, he knew from Dr.
Howe's face that the time was not yet.
"I am glad to see you," he said, a little hurriedly; the thin hand he extended was not quite steady.
The rector's forehead was gathered into a heavy frown.

"See here," he answered, planting his feet wide apart, and still holding his hat and stick behind him, "I cannot give you my hand while you are ignorant of the spirit in which I come." "You come for Helen's sake," John replied.
"Yes, sir, I do come for Helen's sake," returned Dr.Howe, "but it is because of your conduct, because of the heartless way in which you have treated my niece.

You cannot expect me to have a friendly feeling for the man who is cruel to her." For the moment he forgot that this was to be a theological dispute.

"Now, sir, what explanation have you to give of this outrageous affair ?" "Helen's soul shall be saved," John said, his voice growing firmer, but losing none of its gentleness.
Dr.Howe made an impatient gesture.