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〃I do hope you'll be better to…morrow；〃 she said； and she commiserated
with Anne on all she had missedthe garden； the stars； the scent of flowers；
the meteorites through whose summer shower the earth was now passing；
the rising moon and its gibbosity。 And then they had had such interesting
conversation。 What about？ About almost everything。 Nature； art；
science； poetry； the stars； spiritualism； the relations of the sexes； music；
religion。 Ivor； she thought； had an interesting mind。
The two young ladies parted affectionately。
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CHAPTER XVIII。
The nearest Roman Catholic church was upwards of twenty miles
away。 Ivor； who was punctilious in his devotions； came down early to
breakfast and had his car at the door； ready to start； by a quarter to ten。 It
was a smart； expensive…looking machine； enamelled a pure lemon yellow
and upholstered in emerald green leather。 There were two seatsthree if
you squeezed tightly enoughand their occupants were protected from
wind； dust； and weather by a glazed sedan that rose； an elegant eighteenth…
century hump； from the midst of the body of the car。
Mary had never been to a Roman Catholic service； thought it would be
an interesting experience； and； when the car moved off through the great
gates of the courtyard； she was occupying the spare seat in the sedan。
The sea…lion horn roared； faintlier； faintlier； and they were gone。
In the parish church of Crome Mr。 Bodiham preached on 1 Kings vi。
18： 〃And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops〃a
sermon of immediately local interest。 For the past two years the problem
of the War Memorial had exercised the minds of all those in Crome who
had enough leisure； or mental energy； or party spirit to think of such things。
Henry Wimbush was all for a librarya library of local literature； stocked
with county histories； old maps of the district； monographs on the local
antiquities； dialect dictionaries； handbooks of the local geology and
natural history。 He liked to think of the villagers； inspired by such
reading； making up parties of a Sunday afternoon to look for fossils and
flint arrow…heads。 The villagers themselves favoured the idea of a
memorial reservoir and water supply。 But the busiest and most articulate
party followed Mr。 Bodiham in demanding something religious in
charactera second lich…gate； for example； a stained…glass window； a
monument of marble； or； if possible； all three。 So far； however； nothing
had been done； partly because the memorial committee had never been
able to agree； partly for the more cogent reason that too little money had
been subscribed to carry out any of the proposed schemes。 Every three
or four months Mr。 Bodiham preached a sermon on the subject。 His last
had been delivered in March； it was high time that his congregation had a
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fresh reminder。
〃And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops。〃
Mr。 Bodiham touched lightly on Solomon's temple。 From thence he
passed to temples and churches in general。 What were the characteristics
of these buildings dedicated to God？ Obviously； the fact of their； from a
human point of view； complete uselessness。 They were unpractical
buildings 〃carved with knops。〃 Solomon might have built a library
indeed； what could be more to the taste of the world's wisest man？ He
might have dug a reservoirwhat more useful in a parched city like
Jerusalem？ He did neither； he built a house all carved with knops；
useless and unpractical。 Why？ Because he was dedicating the work to
God。 There had been much talk in Crome about the proposed War
Memorial。 A War Memorial was； in its very nature； a work dedicated to
God。 It was a token of thankfulness that the first stage in the culminating
world…war had been crowned by the triumph of righteousness； it was at the
same time a visibly embodied supplication that God might not long delay
the Advent which alone could bring the final peace。 A library； a reservoir？
Mr。 Bodiham scornfully and indignantly condemned the idea。 These
were works dedicated to man； not to God。 As a War Memorial they were
totally unsuitable。 A lich…gate had been suggested。 This was an object
which answered perfectly to the definition of a War Memorial： a useless
work dedicated to God and carved with knops。 One lich…gate； it was true；
already existed。 But nothing would be easier than to make a second
entrance into the churchyard； and a second entrance would need a second
gate。 Other suggestions had been made。 Stained…glass windows； a
monument of marble。 Both these were admirable； especially the latter。 It
was high time that the War Memorial was erected。 It might soon be too
late。 At any moment； like a thief in the night； God might come。
Meanwhile a difficulty stood in the way。 Funds were inadequate。 All
should subscribe according to their means。 Those who had lost relations
in the war might reasonably be expected to subscribe a sum equal to that
which they would have had to pay in funeral expenses if the relative had
died while at home。 Further delay was disastrous。 The War Memorial
must be built at once。 He appealed to the patriotism and the Christian
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sentiments of all his hearers。
Henry Wimbush walked home thinking of the books he would present
to the War Memorial Library； if ever it came into existence。 He took the
path through the fields； it was pleasanter than the road。 At the first stile a
group of village boys； loutish young fellows all dressed in the hideous ill…
fitting black which makes a funeral of every English Sunday and holiday；
were