Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/419

XXV] Her eyes sparkled." [sic] "I see what you mean!" she exclaimed. "Human Free-Will is an exception to the system of fixed Law. Eric said something like that. And then I think he pointed out that God can only influence Nature by influencing Human Wills. So that we might reasonably pray ' give us this day our daily bread ' because many of the causes that produce bread are under Man's control. But to pray for rain, or fine weather, would be as unreasonable as——" she checked herself, as if fearful of saying something irreverent.

In a hushed, low tone, that trembled with emotion, and with the solemnity of one in the presence of death, Arthur slowly replied "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Shall we, 'the swarm that in the noon-tide beam were born,' feeling in ourselves the power to direct, this way or that, the forces of Nature——of Nature, of which we form so trivial a part——shall we, in our boundless arrogance, in our pitiful conceit, deny that power to the Ancient of Days? Saying, to our Creator, 'Thus far and no further. Thou madest, but thou canst not rule!'?"