She, too, had heard the Lockhaven rumors.
"But then," she proceeded, "I don't see how a parson can help being sound on that, though it is surprising what people will doubt, even the things that are plainest to other people.

I've many a time heard my father say that the proper holding of the doctrine of reprobation was necessary to eternal life.

I suppose you believe that, Mr.Ward," she added, with a little toss of her head, "even if you don't go all the way with the confession, about infants ?" "Yes," John said sadly, "I must; because not to believe in reprobation is to say that the sacrifice of the cross was a useless offering." "And of course," Mrs.Grier went on, an edge of sarcasm cutting into her voice, "Mrs.Ward thinks so, too?
Of course she thinks that a belief in hell is necessary to get to heaven ?" The preacher looked at his wife with a growing anxiety in his face.
"No," Helen said, "I do not think so, Mrs.Grier." Mrs.Grier flung up her little thin hands, which looked like bird-claws.
"You _don't_!" she cried shrilly.

"Well, now, I do say! And what do you think about the heathen, then?
Do you think they'll be damned ?" "No," Helen said again.
Mrs.Grier gave a gurgle of astonishment, and looked at Mr.Ward, but he did not speak.
"Well," she exclaimed, "if I didn't think the heathen would be lost, I wouldn't see the use of the plan of salvation! Why, they've got to be!" "If they had to be," cried Helen, with sudden passion, "I should want to be a heathen.

I should be ashamed to be saved, if there were so many lost." She stopped; the anguish in John's face silenced her.
"Well," Mrs.Grier said again, really enjoying the scene, "_I'm_ surprised; I wouldn't a' believed it!" She folded her hands across her waist, and looked at Mrs.Ward with keen interest.