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Theweekpassedwithoutanyfurthercommunicationwiththe‘Hall,’asArthurwasevidentlyfearfulthatwemight‘wearoutourwelcome’;butwhen,onSundaymorning,weweresettingoutforchurch,IgladlyagreedtohisproposaltogoroundandenquireaftertheEarl,whowassaidtobeunwell.
Eric,whowasstrollinginthegarden,gaveusagoodreportoftheinvalid,whowasstillinbed,withLadyMurielinattendance.
“Areyoucomingwithustochurch?”Ienquired.
“Thanks,no,”hecourteouslyreplied.“It’snot—exactlyinmyline,youknow.
It’sanexcellentinstitution—forthepoor.
WhenI’mwithmyownfolk,Igo,justtosetthemanexample.
ButI’mnotknownhere:soIthinkI’llexcusemyselfsittingoutasermon.Country-preachersarealwayssodull!”
Arthurwassilenttillwewereoutofhearing.Thenhesaidtohimself,almostinaudibly,“Wheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmyname,thereamIinthemidstofthem.”
“Yes,”Iassented:“nodoubtthatistheprincipleonwhichchurch-goingrests.”
“Andwhenhedoesgo,”hecontinued(ourthoughtsransomuchtogether,thatourconversationwasoftenslightlyelliptical),“Isupposeherepeatsthewords‘IbelieveintheCommunionofSaints’?”
Butbythistimewehadreachedthelittlechurch,intowhichagoodlystreamofworshipers,consistingmainlyoffishermenandtheirfamilies,wasflowing.
Theservicewouldhavebeenpronouncedbyanymodernaestheticreligionist—orreligiousaesthete,whichisit?
—tobecrudeandcold:tome,comingfreshfromtheever-advancingdevelopmentsofaLondonchurchunderasoi-disant‘Catholic’Rector,itwasunspeakablyrefreshing.
Therewasnotheatricalprocessionofdemurelittlechoristers,tryingtheirbestnottosimperundertheadmiringgazeofthecongregation:thepeople’sshareintheservicewastakenbythepeoplethemselves,unaided,exceptthatafewgoodvoices,judiciouslypostedhereandthereamongthem,keptthesingingfromgoingtoofarastray.
Therewasnomurderingofthenoblemusic,containedintheBibleandtheLiturgy,byitsrecitalinadeadmonotone,withnomoreexpressionthanamechanicaltalking-doll.
No,theprayerswereprayed,thelessonswereread,andbestofallthesermonwastalked;andIfoundmyselfrepeating,asweleftthechurch,thewordsofJacob,whenhe‘awakedoutofhissleep.’“’SurelytheLordisinthisplace!
ThisisnoneotherbutthehouseofGod,andthisisthegateofheaven.’”
“Yes,”saidArthur,apparentlyinanswertomythoughts,“those‘high’servicesarefastbecomingpureFormalism.
Moreandmorethepeoplearebeginningtoregardthemas‘performances,’inwhichtheyonly‘assist’intheFrenchsense.
Anditisspeciallybadforthelittleboys.
They’dbemuchlessself-consciousaspantomime-fairies.
Withallthatdressing-up,andstagy-entrancesandexits,andbeingalwaysenevidence,nowonderifthey’reeatenupwithvanity,theblatantlittlecoxcombs!”
WhenwepassedtheHallonourreturn,wefoundtheEarlandLadyMurielsittingoutinthegarden.Erichadgoneforastroll.
Wejoinedthem,andtheconversationsoonturnedonthesermonwehadjustheard,thesubjectofwhichwas‘selfishness.’
“Whatachangehascomeoverourpulpits,”Arthurremarked,“sincethetimewhenPaleygavethatutterlyselfishdefinitionofvirtue,‘thedoinggoodtomankind,inobediencetothewillofGod,andforthesakeofeverlastinghappiness’!”
LadyMuriellookedathiminquiringly,butsheseemedtohavelearnedbyintuition,whatyearsofexperiencehadtaughtme,thatthewaytoelicitArthur’sdeepestthoughtswasneithertoassentnordissent,butsimplytolisten.
“Atthattime,”hewenton,“agreattidalwaveofselfishnesswassweepingoverhumanthought.
RightandWronghadsomehowbeentransformedintoGainandLoss,andReligionhadbecomeasortofcommercialtransaction.
Wemaybethankfulthatourpreachersarebeginningtotakeanoblerviewoflife.”
“ButisitnottaughtagainandagainintheBible?”Iventuredtoask.
“NotintheBibleasawhole,”saidArthur.
“IntheOldTestament,nodoubt,rewardsandpunishmentsareconstantlyappealedtoasmotivesforaction.
Thatteachingisbestforchildren,andtheIsraelitesseemtohavebeen,mentally,utterchildren.
Weguideourchildrenthus,atfirst:butweappeal,assoonaspossible,totheirinnatesenseofRightandWrong:and,whenthatstageissafelypast,weappealtothehighestmotiveofall,thedesireforlikenessto,andunionwith,theSupremeGood.
IthinkyouwillfindthattobetheteachingoftheBible,asawhole,beginningwith‘thatthydaysmaybelongintheland,’andendingwith‘beyeperfect,evenasyourFatherwhichisinheavenisperfect.’”
Weweresilentforawhile,andthenArthurwentoffonanothertack.“LookattheliteratureofHymns,now.
Howcankereditis,throughandthrough,withselfishness!
TherearefewhumancompositionsmoreutterlydegradedthansomemodernHymns!”
Iquotedthestanza
“Whatever,Lord,wetendtoThee,
Repaidathousandfoldshallbe,
ThengladlywillwegivetoThee,
Giverofall!’
“Yes,”hesaidgrimly:“thatisthetypicalstanza.
Andtheverylastcharity-sermonIheardwasinfectedwithit.
Aftergivingmanygoodreasonsforcharity,thepreacherwoundupwith‘and,forallyougive,youwillberepaidathousandfold!’
Ohtheuttermeannessofsuchamotive,tobeputbeforemenwhodoknowwhatself-sacrificeis,whocanappreciategenerosityandheroism!TalkofOriginalSin!”hewentonwithincreasingbitterness.
“CanyouhaveastrongerproofoftheOriginalGoodnesstheremustbeinthisnation,thanthefactthatReligionhasbeenpreachedtous,asacommercialspeculation,foracentury,andthatwestillbelieveinaGod?”
“Itcouldn’thavegoneonsolong,”LadyMurielmusinglyremarked,“iftheOppositionhadn’tbeenpracticallysilenced—putunderwhattheFrenchcalllacloture.
Surelyinanylecture-hall,orinprivatesociety,suchteachingwouldsoonhavebeenhooteddown?”
“Itrustso,”saidArthur:“and,thoughIdon’twanttosee‘brawlinginchurch’legalized,Imustsaythatourpreachersenjoyanenormousprivilege—whichtheyilldeserve,andwhichtheymisuseterribly.
Weputourmanintoapulpit,andwevirtuallytellhim‘Now,youmaystandthereandtalktousforhalf-an-hour.
Wewon’tinterruptyoubysomuchasaword!Youshallhaveitallyourownway!’Andwhatdoeshegiveusinreturn?
Shallowtwaddle,that,ifitwereaddressedtoyouoveradinner-table,youwouldthink‘Doesthemantakemeforafool?’”
ThereturnofEricfromhiswalkcheckedthetideofArthur’seloquence,and,afterafewminutes’talkonmoreconventionaltopics,wetookourleave.LadyMurielwalkedwithustothegate.
“Youhavegivenmemuchtothinkabout,”shesaidearnestly,asshegaveArthurherhand.“I’msogladyoucamein!”
Andherwordsbroughtarealglowofpleasureintothatpalewornfaceofhis.
OntheTuesday,asArthurdidnotseemequaltomorewalking,Itookalongstrollbymyself,havingstipulatedthathewasnottogivethewholedaytohisbooks,butwastomeetmeattheHallatabouttea-time.
Onmywayback,IpassedtheStationjustastheafternoon-traincameinsight,andsauntereddownthestairstoseeitcomein.
Buttherewaslittletogratifymyidlecuriosity:and,whenthetrainwasempty,andtheplatformclear,Ifounditwasabouttimetobemovingon,ifImeanttoreachtheHallbyfive.
AsIapproachedtheendoftheplatform,fromwhichasteepirregularwoodenstaircaseconductedtotheupperworld,Inoticedtwopassengers,whohadevidentlyarrivedbythetrain,butwho,oddlyenough,hadentirelyescapedmynotice,thoughthearrivalshadbeensofew.
Theywereayoungwomanandalittlegirl:theformer,sofarasonecouldjudgebyappearances,wasanursemaid,orpossiblyanursery-governess,inattendanceonthechild,whoserefinedface,evenmorethanherdress,distinguishedherasofahigherclassthanhercompanion.
Thechild’sfacewasrefined,butitwasalsoawornandsadone,andtoldatale(orsoIseemedtoreadit)ofmuchillnessandsuffering,sweetlyandpatientlyborne.
Shehadalittlecrutchtohelpherselfalongwith:andshewasnowstanding,lookingwistfullyupthelongstaircase,andapparentlywaitingtillshecouldmustercouragetobeginthetoilsomeascent.
Therearesomethingsonesaysinlife—aswellasthingsonedoes—whichcomeautomatically,byreflexaction,asthephysiologistssay(meaning,nodoubt,actionwithoutreflection,justaslucusissaidtobederived‘anonlucendo’).
Closingone’seyelids,whensomethingseemstobeflyingintotheeye,isoneofthoseactions,andsaying“MayIcarrythelittlegirlupthestairs?”wasanother.
Itwasn’tthatanythoughtofofferinghelpoccurredtome,andthatthenIspoke:thefirstintimationIhad,ofbeinglikelytomakethatoffer,wasthesoundofmyownvoice,andthediscoverythattheofferhadbeenmade.
Theservantpaused,doubtfullyglancingfromherchargetome,andthenbackagaintothechild.“Wouldyoulikeit,dear?”sheaskedher.
Butnosuchdoubtappearedtocrossthechild’smind:sheliftedherarmseagerlytobetakenup.“Please!”
wasallshesaid,whileafaintsmileflickeredonthewearylittleface.
Itookherupwithscrupulouscare,andherlittlearmwasatonceclaspedtrustfullyroundmyneck.
Shewasaverylightweight—solight,infact,thattheridiculousideacrossedmymindthatitwasrathereasiergoingup,withherinmyarms,thanitwouldhavebeenwithouther:and,whenwereachedtheroadabove,withitscart-rutsandloosestones—allformidableobstaclesforalamechild—IfoundthatIhadsaid“I’dbettercarryheroverthisroughplace,”beforeIhadformedanymentalconnectionbetweenitsroughnessandmygentlelittleburden.
“Indeedit’stroublingyoutoomuch,Sir!”themaidexclaimed.“Shecanwalkverywellontheflat.”
Butthearm,thatwastwinedaboutmyneck,clungjustanatommorecloselyatthesuggestion,anddecidedmetosay“She’snoweight,really.I’llcarryheralittlefurther.I’mgoingyourway.”
Thenurseraisednofurtherobjection:andthenextspeakerwasaraggedlittleboy,withbarefeet,andabroomoverhisshoulder,whoranacrosstheroad,andpretendedtosweeptheperfectlydryroadinfrontofus.“Giveusa‘ap’ny!”
thelittleurchinpleaded,withabroadgrinonhisdirtyface.
“Don’tgivehima‘ap’ny!”saidthelittleladyinmyarms.
Thewordssoundedharsh:butthetonewasgentlenessitself.“He’sanidlelittleboy!”
AndshelaughedalaughofsuchsilverysweetnessasIhadneveryetheardfromanylipsbutSylvie’s.
Tomyastonishment,theboyactuallyjoinedinthelaugh,asifthereweresomesubtlesympathybetweenthem,asheranawaydowntheroadandvanishedthroughagapinthehedge.
Buthewasbackinafewmoments,havingdiscardedhisbroomandprovidedhimself,fromsomemysterioussource,withanexquisitebouquetofflowers.“Buyaposy,buyaposy!Onlya‘ap’ny!”
hechanted,withthemelancholydrawlofaprofessionalbeggar.
“Don’tbuyit!”wasHerMajesty’sedictasshelookeddown,withaloftyscornthatseemedcuriouslymixedwithtenderinterest,ontheraggedcreatureatherfeet.
ButthistimeIturnedrebel,andignoredtheroyalcommands.
Suchlovelyflowers,andofformssoentirelynewtome,werenottobeabandonedatthebiddingofanylittlemaid,howeverimperious.
Iboughtthebouquet:andthelittleboy,afterpoppingthehalfpennyintohismouth,turnedhead-over-heels,asiftoascertainwhetherthehumanmouthisreallyadaptedtoserveasamoney-box.
Withwonder,thatincreasedeverymoment,Iturnedovertheflowers,andexaminedthemonebyone:therewasnotasingleoneamongthemthatIcouldrememberhavingeverseenbefore.AtlastIturnedtothenursemaid.“Dotheseflowersgrowwildabouthere?
Ineversaw—”butthespeechdiedawayonmylips.Thenursemaidhadvanished!
“Youcanputmedown,now,ifyoulike,”Sylviequietlyremarked.
Iobeyedinsilence,andcouldonlyaskmyself“Isthisadream?”,onfindingSylvieandBrunowalkingoneoneithersideofme,andclingingtomyhandswiththereadyconfidenceofchildhood.
“You’relargerthanwhenIsawyoulast!”Ibegan.“ReallyIthinkweoughttobeintroducedagain!There’ssomuchofyouthatInevermetbefore,youknow.”
“Verywell!”Sylviemerrilyreplied.“ThisisBruno.Itdoesn’ttakelong.He’sonlygotonename!”
“There’sanothernametome!”Brunoprotested,withareproachfullookattheMistressoftheCeremonies.“Andit’s—’Esquire’!”
“Oh,ofcourse.Iforgot,”saidSylvie.“Bruno—Esquire!”
“Anddidyoucomeheretomeetme,mychildren?”Ienquired.
“YouknowIsaidwe’dcomeonTuesday,Sylvieexplained.“Arewethepropersizeforcommonchildren?”
“Quitetherightsizeforchildren,”Ireplied,(addingmentally“thoughnotcommonchildren,byanymeans!”)“Butwhatbecameofthenursemaid?”
“Itaregone!”Brunosolemnlyreplied.
“Thenitwasn’tsolid,likeSylvieandyou?”
“No.Oocouldn’ttouchit,ooknow.Ifoowalkedatit,oo’dgorightfroo!”
“Iquiteexpectedyou’dfinditout,once,”saidSylvie.“Brunoranitagainstatelegraphpost,byaccident.Anditwentintwohalves.Butyouwerelookingtheotherway.”
IfeltthatIhadindeedmissedanopportunity:towitnesssuchaneventasanursemaidgoing‘intwohalves’doesnotoccurtwiceinalife-time!
“WhendidooguessitwereSylvie?”Brunoenquired.
“Ididn’tguessit,tillitwasSylvie,”Isaid.“ButhowdidYoumanagethenursemaid?“
“Brunomanagedit,”saidSylvie.“It’scalledaPhlizz.”
“AndhowdoyoumakeaPhlizz,Bruno?”
“TheProfessorteachedmehow,”saidBruno.“Firstootakesalotofair—”
“Oh,Bruno!”Sylvieinterposed.“TheProfessorsaidyouweren’ttotell!”Butwhodidhervoice?”Iasked.
“Indeedit’stroublingyoutoomuch,Sir!Shecanwalkverywellontheflat.”
BrunolaughedmerrilyasIturnedhastilyfromsidetoside,lookinginalldirectionsforthespeaker.“Thatwereme!”hegleefullyproclaimed,inhisownvoice.
“Shecanindeedwalkverywellontheflat,”Isaid.“AndIthinkIwastheFlat.”
BythistimewewereneartheHall.“Thisiswheremyfriendslive,”Isaid.“Willyoucomeinandhavesometeawiththem?”
Brunogavealittlejumpofjoy:andSylviesaid“Yes,please.You’dlikesometea,Bruno,wouldn’tyou?Hehasn’ttastedtea,”sheexplainedtome,“sinceweleftOutland.”
“Andthatweren’tgoodtea!”saidBruno.“Itweresowellyweak!”
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