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ly before him: in the distance were the roofs of Mannheim
and ever so far away the dimness of Worms. Here and there
a more piercing glitter was the Rhine. The tremendous spa-
ciousness of it was glowing with rich gold. Philip, as he
stood there, his heart beating with sheer joy, thought how
the tempter had stood with Jesus on a high mountain and
shown him the kingdoms of the earth. To Philip, intoxicated
with the beauty of the scene, it seemed that it was the whole
world which was spread before him, and he was eager to step
down and enjoy it. He was free from degrading fears and
free from prejudice. He could go his way without the intoler-
able dread of hell-fire. Suddenly he realised that he had lost
also that burden of responsibility which made every action
of his life a matter of urgent consequence. He could breathe
more freely in a lighter air. He was responsible only to him-
self for the things he did. Freedom! He was his own master
at last. From old habit, unconsciously he thanked God that
he no longer believed in Him.
Drunk with pride in his intelligence and in his fearless-
ness, Philip entered deliberately upon a new life. But his loss
of faith made less difference in his behaviour than he expect-
ed. Though he had thrown on one side the Christian dogmas
it never occurred to him to criticise the Christian ethics; he
accepted the Christian virtues, and indeed thought it fine
to practise them for their own sake, without a thought of
reward or punishment. There was small occasion for hero-
ism in the Frau Professor’s house, but he was a little more
exactly truthful than he had been, and he forced himself to
be more than commonly attentive to the dull, elderly ladies

1 Of Human Bondage