Our imagination represents to itself souls
like pebbles, and asks itself what count can be kept of a million,
but number in such a case is inapplicable. I believe that all
thought is a manifestation of the Being, who is One, whom you may
call God if you like, and that, as It never was created, It will
never be destroyed.'
'But,' said Madge, interrupting him, 'although you began by warning
me not to expect that you would prove anything, you can tell me
whether you have any kind of basis for what you say, or whether it is
all a dream.'
'You will be surprised, perhaps, to hear that mathematics, which, of
course, I had to learn for my own business, have supplied something
for a foundation. They lead to ideas which are inconsistent with the
notion that the imagination is a measure of all things. Mind, I do
not for a moment pretend that I have any theory which explains the
universe. It is something, however, to know that the sky is as real
as the earth.'
They had now reached Great Ormond Street, and parted. Clara and
Marshall were about five minutes behind them. Madge was unusually
cheerful when they sat down to supper.
'Clara,' she said, 'what made you so silent to-night at Mazzini's?'
Clara did not reply, but after a pause of a minute or two, she asked
Mrs Caffyn whether it would not be possible for them all to go into
the country on Whitmonday? Whitsuntide was late; it would be warm,
and they could take their food with them and eat it out of doors.
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