`` I am much afraid that this war has been sent as a punishment for our sins , '' said Cousin Sophia , unclasping her pale hands from her lap and reclasping them solemnly over her stomach . '' ` The world is very evil -- the times are waxing late . ' '' `` Parson here 's got something of the same idea , '' chuckled Norman . `` Have n't you , Parson ? That 's why you preached t ` other night on the text ` Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins . ' I did n't agree with you -- wanted to get up in the pew and shout out that there was n't a word of sense in what you were saying , but Ellen , here , she held me down . I never have any fun sassing parsons since I got married . '' `` Without shedding of blood there is no anything , '' said Mr. Meredith , in the gentle dreamy way which had an unexpected trick of convincing his hearers . `` Everything , it seems to me , has to be purchased by self-sacrifice . Our race has marked every step of its painful ascent with blood . And now torrents of it must flow again . No , Mrs. Crawford , I do n't think the war has been sent as a punishment for sin . I think it is the price humanity must pay for some blessing -- some advance great enough to be worth the price -- which we may not live to see but which our children 's children will inherit . '' `` If Jerry is killed will you feel so fine about it ? '' demanded Norman , who had been saying things like that all his life and never could be made to see any reason why he should n't . `` Now , never mind kicking me in the shins , Ellen . I want to see if Parson meant what he said or if it was just a pulpit frill . '' Mr. Meredith 's face quivered . He had had a terrible hour alone in his study on the night Jem and Jerry had gone to town . But he answered quietly .
`` Whatever I felt , it could not alter my belief -- my assurance XXXXX a country whose sons are ready to lay down their lives in her defence will win a new vision because of their sacrifice . ''
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