Occasionally , when the Captain was away in his yacht , he went for a walk with her and her dogs along the shore or through the sweet-smelling pinelands up the lake . He found that she loved books and was avid for more of them than she could obtain ; he was glad to take her several and discuss them with her . She liked history and travels best . With novels she had no patience , she said disdainfully . She seldom spoke of herself or her past life and Alan fancied she avoided any personal reference . But once she said abruptly , `` Why do you never ask me to go to church ? I 've always been afraid you would . '' `` Because I do not think it would do you any good to go if you did n't want to , '' said Alan gravely . `` Souls should not be rudely handled any more than bodies . '' She looked at him reflectively , her finger denting her chin in a meditative fashion she had . `` You are not at all like Mr. Strong . He always scolded me , when he got a chance , for not going to church . I would have hated him if it had been worthwhile . I told him one day that I was nearer to God under these pines than I could be in any building fashioned by human hands . He was very much shocked . But I do n't want you to misunderstand me . Father does not go to church because he does not believe there is a God . But I know there is . Mother taught me so . I have never gone to church because Father would not allow me , and I could not go now in Rexton where the people talk about me so .
Oh , I know they do -- you know it , too -- but I do not care XXXXX them .
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