The earl never by any chance went to church.

His niece, lady Arctura, did, however, and held the minister for an authority at things spiritual--one of whom living water was to be had without money and without price.

But what she counted spiritual things were very common earthly stuff, and for the water, it was but stagnant water from the ditches of a sham theology.

Only what was a poor girl to do who did not know how to feed herself, but apply to one who pretended to be able to feed others?
How was she to know that he could not even feed himself?
Out of many a difficulty she thought he helped her--only the difficulty would presently clasp her again, and she must deal with it as she best could, until a new one made her forget it, and go to the minister, or rather to his daughter, again.

She was one of those who feel the need of some help to live--some upholding that is not of themselves, but who, through the stupidity of teachers unconsciously false,--men so unfit that they do not know they are unfit, direct their efforts, first towards having correct notions, then to work up the feelings that belong to those notions.