166 GEOBGE JOHN EOMANES 



To a boy of sixteen the mere knowledge of uncer- 

 tainty in his father's mind may drain all the moral 

 cogency out of the whole conception of religion : the 

 very suspicion of the uncertainty may unnerve him 

 more than the full realisation of the doubt would 

 change his father's aim and hope in doing his duty. 



And so, at the risk of paining you believe me, I 

 would rather have the pain than give it you and pre- 

 suming very thankfully on the wish of which you 

 spoke, I would plead that your children might remain 

 as long as possible in ignorance of your uncertainty 

 and anxiety ; that they should only know in a general 

 way that the religious influences, the principles of 

 their Godward life which they receive, are given to 

 them by your wish that you would have them grow 

 up after that type, with that hope and aspiration ; 

 and I would plead that for their sakes you should 

 suffer the pain, great as it may be, of being reticent 

 where you long to be ever communicative, ever unre- 

 served. You may be unspeakably thankful some day 

 that you did so suffer : and, whatever comes, you will 

 be sure of your children's deepest love and gratitude, 

 if ever they should know that this was one of your 

 acts of self-sacrifice for them. 



Please forgive me, dear Eomanes, where I have 

 written blunderingly, or given you unnecessary pain. 

 I pray God to guide and teach and gladden both you 

 and yours, and I am 



Your affectionate friend, 



FKANCIS PAGET. 



