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laughed and coaxed； and Charlotte uttered unexceptionable
sentiments； and the thing was done now； and could not be undone； and
it was no use grieving over spilt milk； so henceforth the psalms
were to be chanted； but Theobald grisled over it in his heart； and
he did not like it。
During this same absence what had Mrs Goodhew and old Miss Wright
taken to doing but turning towards the east while repeating the
Belief？ Theobald disliked this even worse than chanting。 When he
said something about it in a timid way at dinner after service；
Charlotte said； 〃Really； papa dear； you MUST take to calling it the
'Creed' and not the 'Belief'〃； and Theobald winced impatiently and
snorted meek defiance； but the spirit of her aunts Jane and Eliza
was strong in Charlotte； and the thing was too small to fight about；
and he turned it off with a laugh。 〃As for Charlotte；〃 thought
Christina； 〃I believe she knows EVERYTHING。〃 So Mrs Goodhew and old
Miss Wright continued to turn to the east during the time the Creed
was said； and by…and…by others followed their example； and ere long
the few who had stood out yielded and turned eastward too； and then
Theobald made as though he had thought it all very right and proper
from the first； but like it he did not。 By…and…by Charlotte tried
to make him say 〃Alleluia〃 instead of 〃Hallelujah；〃 but this was
going too far； and Theobald turned； and she got frightened and ran
away。
And they changed the double chants for single ones； and altered them
psalm by psalm； and in the middle of psalms； just where a cursory
reader would see no reason why they should do so； they changed from
major to minor and from minor back to major； and then they got
〃Hymns Ancient and Modern；〃 and； as I have said； they robbed him of
his beloved bands； and they made him preach in a surplice； and he
must have celebration of the Holy Communion once a month instead of
only five times in the year as heretofore； and he struggled in vain
against the unseen influence which he felt to be working in season
and out of season against all that he had been accustomed to
consider most distinctive of his party。 Where it was； or what it
was； he knew not； nor exactly what it would do next； but he knew
exceedingly well that go where he would it was undermining him； that
it was too persistent for him； that Christina and Charlotte liked it
a great deal better than he did； and that it could end in nothing
but Rome。 Easter decorations indeed！ Christmas decorationsin
reasonwere proper enough； but Easter decorations！ well； it might
last his time。
This was the course things had taken in the Church of England during
the last forty years。 The set has been steadily in one direction。
A few men who knew what they wanted made cats' paws of the Christmas
and the Charlottes； and the Christmas and the Charlottes made cats'
paws of the Mrs Goodhews and the old Miss Wrights； and Mrs Goodhews
and old Miss Wrights told the Mr Goodhews and young Miss Wrights
what they should do； and when the Mr Goodhews and the young Miss
Wrights did it the little Goodhews and the rest of the spiritual
flock did as they did； and the Theobalds went for nothing； step by
step； day by day； year by year； parish by parish； diocese by diocese
this was how it was done。 And yet the Church of England looks with
no friendly eyes upon the theory of Evolution or Descent with
Modification。
My hero thought over these things； and remembered many a ruse on the
part of Christina and Charlotte； and many a detail of the struggle
which I cannot further interrupt my story to refer to； and he
remembered his father's favourite retort that it could only end in
Rome。 When he was a boy he had firmly believed this； but he smiled
now as he thought of another alternative clear enough to himself；
but so horrible that it had not even occurred to TheobaldI mean
the toppling over of the whole system。 At that time he welcomed the
hope that the absurdities and unrealities of the Church would end in
her downfall。 Since then he has come to think very differently； not
as believing in the cow jumping over the moon more than he used to；
or more； probably； than nine…tenths of the clergy themselveswho
know as well as he does that their outward and visible symbols are
out of datebut because he knows the baffling complexity of the
problem when it comes to deciding what is actually to be done。
Also； now that he has seen them more closely； he knows better the
nature of those wolves in sheep's clothing； who are thirsting for
the blood of their victim； and exulting so clamorously over its
anticipated early fall into their clutches。 The spirit behind the
Church is true； though her lettertrue onceis now true no longer。
The spirit behind the High Priests of Science is as lying as its
letter。 The Theobalds； who do what they do because it seems to be
the correct thing； but who in their hearts neither like it nor
believe in it； are in reality the least dangerous of all classes to
the peace and liberties of mankind。 The man to fear is he who goes
at things with the cocksureness of pushing vulgarity and self…
conceit。 These are not vices which can be justly laid to the charge
of the English clergy。
Many of the farmers came up to Ernest when service was over； and
shook hands with him。 He found every one knew of his having come
into a fortune。 The fact was that Theobald had immediately told two
or three of the greatest gossips in the village； and the story was
not long in spreading。 〃It simplified matters；〃 he had said to
himself； 〃a good deal。〃 Ernest was civil to Mrs Goodhew for her
husband's sake； but he gave Miss Wright the cut direct； for he knew
that she was only Charlotte in disguise。
A week passed slowly away。 Two or three times the family took the
sacrament together round Christina's death…bed。 Theobald's
impatience became more and more transparent daily； but fortunately
Christina （who even if she had been well would have been ready to
shut her eyes to it） became weaker and less coherent in mind also；
so that she hardly； if at all； perceived it。 After Ernest had been
in the house about a week his mother fell into a comatose state
which lasted a couple of days； and in the end went away so
peacefully that it was like the blending of sea and sky in mid…ocean
upon a soft hazy day when none can say where the earth ends and the
heavens begin。 Indeed she died to the realities of life with less
pain than she had waked from many of its illusions。
〃She has been the comfort and mainstay of my life for more than
thirty years；〃 said Theobald as soon as all was over； 〃but one could
not wish it prolonged；〃 and he buried his face in his handkerchief
to conceal his want of emotion。
Ernest came back to town the day after his mother's death； and
returned to the funeral accompanied by myself。 He wanted me to see
his father in order to prevent any possible misapprehension about
Miss Pontifex's intentions； and I was such an old friend of the
family that my presence at Christina's funeral would surprise no
one。 With all her faults I had always rather liked Christina。 She
would have chopped Ernest or any one else into l