phyllis of philistia-第34章

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〃It　is　very　good　of　you　to　come　to　me；　Mr。　Holland；〃　said　Stephen。　〃There　seems　to　be　a　general　idea　that　a　clergyman　should　be　at　the　beck　and　call　of　everyone　who　has　a　whim　towhat　do　they　call　it　in　Irelandto　make　his　soul？　That　has　never　been　my　opinion；　I　have　never　given　any　trouble　to　a　clergyman　since　I　was　at　school。〃

〃It　is　the　privilege　of　a　minister　to　be　a　servant；〃　said　the　Rev。　George　Holland。

〃We　were　taught　that　at　schoolin　connection　with　the　Latin　verb　/ministro/；〃　said　Mr。　Linton。　〃Well；　Mr。　Holland；　I　am　glad　that　you　take　such　a　view　of　your　calling；　for　I　am　anxious　that　you　should　do　me　a　great　service。〃

He　paused。

George　Holland　bent　his　head。　He　wondered　if　Mr。　Linton　wished　to　intrust　him　with　the　duty　of　observing　his　wife。

〃The　fact　is；　Mr。　Holland；〃　resumed　Stephen　Linton；　〃I　have　read　your　book　and　your　paper　in　that　review。　The　way　you　deal　with　a　difficult　question　has　filled　me　with　admiration。　You　will；　I　need　scarcely　say；　be　outside　the　Church　before　long。〃

〃I　cannot　allow　you　to　assume　that；　Mr。　Linton；〃　said　George　gravely。　〃I　should　be　sorry　to　leave　the　Church。　I　cannot　see　that　my　leaving　it　is　the　logical　sequence　of　anything　that　I　have　yet　written。　My　aim　is；　as　doubtless　you　have　perceived；　to　bring　about　such　reasonable　and；　after　all；　not　radical　changes　in　the　Church　system　as　shall　make　her　in　the　future　a　more　potent　agency　for　good　than　she　has　ever　yet　been；　splendid　though　her　services　to　humanity　have　been。〃

〃Still　you　will　find　yourself　outside　the　walls　of　your　Church；　Mr。　Holland。　And　you　will　probably　adopt　the　course　which　other　sons　of　the　Church　have　thought　necessary　to　pursue　when　the　stubborn　old　thing　refused　to　be　reformed。〃

〃If　you　suggest　that　I　shall　become　a　Dissenter；　Mr。　Linton〃

〃I　suggest　nothing　of　the　sort；　though　you　dissent　already　from　a　good　many　of　the　fundamental　practices　of　the　Church；　if　I　may　be　permitted　the　expression。　Now；　I　should　like　to　make　a　provision　for　your　future；　Mr。　Holland。〃

〃My　dear　sir；　such　a　proposition　seems　to　me　to　be　a　most　extraordinary　one。　I　hope　you　will　not　think　me　rude　in　saying　so　much。　I　have　not　suggested；　Mr。　Linton；　as　other　clergymen　might；　that　you　mean　an　affront　to　me；　but　I　don't　think　that　anything　would　be　gained　by　prolonging〃

〃Permit　me　to　continue；　and　perhaps　you　may　get　a　glimmer　of　gain。　Mr。　Holland；　I　am　what　people　usually　term　a　doomed　man。　So　far　as　I　can　gather　I　have　only　about　six　months　longer　to　live。〃

〃Merciful　Heaven！〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　merciful　on　the　part　of　Heaven　to　destroy　a　man　when　he　has　reached　the　age　of　forty。　We'll　not　go　into　that　question　just　now。　I　was　warned　by　a　doctor　two　years　ago　that　I　had　not　long　to　live。　It　appears　that　my　heart　was　never　really　a　heartthat　is　to　say；　it　may　have　had　its　affections；　its　emotions；　its　passions；　but　pneumatically　it　is　a　failure；　it　was　never　a　blood…pump。　Six　months　ago　I　was　examined　by　the　greatest　authority　in　Europe；　and　he　pronounced　my　doom。　Three　days　ago　I　went　to　the　leading　specialist　in　London；　and　he　told　me　I　might　with　care　live　six　months　longer。〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Linton；　with　what　words　can　I　express　to　you　my　deep　feeling　for　you？〃

George　Holland　spoke　after　a　prolonged　pause；　during　which　he　stared　at　the　white…faced　man　before　him。　A　smile　was　upon　that　white　face。　George　was　deeply　affected。　He　seemed　to　have　stepped　out　of　a　world　of　visionsa　world　that　had　a　visionary　Church；　visionary　preachers；　visionary　doctrinesall　unsubstantial　as　words；　which　are　but　breath　into　a　world　of　realitiessuch　realities　as　life　and　death　and　Ah；　there　were　no　other　realities　in　existence　but　the　two：　life　and　death。

And　Mr。　Linton　continued　smiling。

〃You　may　gather　that　I　wrote　to　you　in　order　that　you　may　help　me　to　make　my　soul。　What　a　capital　phrase！　I　didn't　do　that；　Mr。　Holland。　I　have　never　been　sanguine　about　man　and　his　soul。　I　know　that　it　doesn't　matter　much　to　God　what　a　man　thinks　about　himself　or　his　soul。　It　really　doesn't　matter　much　whether　he　believes　or　not　that　he　has　a　soul：　God　is　the　Principle　of　Rightthe　Fountain　of　Justice；　and　I'm　willing　to　trust　myself　to　God。〃

〃That　is　true　religion；　Mr。　Linton；〃　said　the　clergyman。

〃But　I　agree　with　those　people　who　think　that　the　world　cannot　get　on　without　a　Church。　Now；　I　am　sanguine　enough　to　believe　that　a　Church　founded　on　your　ideas　of　what　is　orthodox　would　be　the　means　of　doing　a　great　deal　of　good。　It　would　do　a　great　deal　of　good　to　my　wife；　to　start　with。　She　does　not　know　that　she　is　so　soon　to　be　a　widow。　Were　she　to　know；　the　last　months　of　my　life　would　be　miserable　to　both　of　us。　I　have　noticed　with　some　pain；　or　should　I　say　amusement？　perhaps　that　word　would　be　the　betterI　have　noticed；　I　say；　that　her　life　is　one　of　complete　aimlessness；　and　that；　therefore；　she　is　tempted　to　think　too　much　about　herself。　She　is　also　tempted　to　have　longings　for　well；　for　temptation。　Ah；　she　is　a　woman　and　temptation　is　in　the　way　of　women。　/Qui　parle　d'amour；　fait　l'amour/：　temptation　comes　to　the　woman　who　thinks　about　being　tempted。　Now；　I　want　to　give　her　something　to　think　about　that　shall　lead　her　out　of　the　thoughts　of　temptation　which　I　suppose　come　naturally　to　a　daughter　of　Evethe　first　woman　who　thought　about　temptation　and　was　therefore　tempted。　My　wife　is　a　perfectly　good　woman；　and　you　will　be　surprised　to　find　out　when　I　am　dead　how　fond　of　me　she　wasshe　will　be　the　most　surprised　of　all。　But　she　is　a　woman。　If　she　were　not　so　much　of　a　woman　I　don't　suppose　I　should　ever　have　cared　so　much　for　her　as　I　do。　I　cared　so　much　for　her；　Mr。　Holland；　that　I　remained　away　from　her　in　Paris　for　three　months　so　that　I　might　school　myself　to　my　fate；　making　no　sign　that　would　lead　her　to　suspect　the　truth。　Why　should　she　have　six　months'　additional　misery？　I　have　strayed。　The　Church。　I　want　to　give　my　wife　an　aim　in　life；　to　make　her　feel　that　she　is　doing　something　worthyto　keep　her　from　thinking　of　less　worthy　things。　Now；　I　think　you　will　agree　with　me　that　there　is　nothing　women　are　really　so　fond　of　as　a　Church　of　some　sort。　To　be　devout　is　as　much　a　part　of　a　woman's　disposition　as　to　lovethe　passion　of　devoutness　sometimes　takes　the　place　of　the　passion　of　love　in　her　nature。　Now；　I　want　to　give　her　this　idea　of　a　Church　to　work　out　when　I　am　dead。　I　want　you　to　carry　out　as　joint　trustee　with　her　your　theories　in　regard　to　the　ritual；　the　art；　the　sermon；　and　for　this　purpose　I　should　of　course　provide　an　ample　endowmentsay　three　or　four　thousand　a　year；　anything　you　may　suggest：　I　shall　leave　a　great　deal　of　money　behind　me。〃

〃Your　project　startles　me；　Mr。　Linton；〃　said　George　Holland。　〃It　startles　me　as　greatly　as　the　first　revelation　you　made　to　me　did。　They　may　be　mistakenthe　doctors；　I　have　known　cases　where　the　highest　authorities　were　ludicrously　in　error。　Let　us　hope　that。〃

〃Well；　we　may　hope；　I　may　live　long　enough　to　lay　the　foundation　stone　of　the　Church　myself。　But　I　am　most　anxious　that　you　should　give　the　whole　matter　your　earnest　attention。〃

〃I　am　quite　dazed。　Do　you　suggest　that　I　should　leave　the　Church　of　England？〃

〃By　no　means。　That　is　a　question　which　I　leave　entirely　to　your　own　decision。　My　own　idea　is　that　you　would　like　a　free　hand。　You　will　have　to　leave　the　Church　sooner　or　later。　A　man　with　your　advanced　ideas　cannot　regulate　your　pace　to　that　of　an　old　woman。　In　twenty　years　the　Church　will　think　precisely　as　you　think　to…day。　That　is　the　way　with　the　Church。　It　opposes　everything　in　the　way　of　an　innovation。　You　stated　the　case　very　fairly　in　your　paper。　The　Church　opposes　every　discovery　and　every　new　thing　as　long　as　possible。　It　then　only　accepts　grudgingly　what　all　civilization　has　accepted　cordially。　Oh；　yes；　you'll　find　it　impossible　to　remain　in　the　Church；　Mr。　Holland。　'Crabbed　age　and　youth；'　you　know。〃

〃I　should　part　from　the　Church　with　the　greatest　reluctance；　Mr。　Linton。〃

〃Then　don't　part　from　it；　only　don't　place　yourself　in　its　power。　Don't　be　beholden　to　it　for　your　income。　Don't　go　to　the　heads　of　the　Church　for　orders。　Be　your　own　master　and　in　plain　words；　run　the　concern　on　your　own　lines。　The　widow　of　the　founder　will　have　no　power　to　interfere　with　you　in　the　matter　of　such　arrangements。〃

〃I　shall　have　to　give　the　matter　a　good　deal　of　thought。　I　should　naturally　have　to　reform　a　good　deal　of　the　ritual。〃

〃Naturally。　The　existing　ritual　is　only　a　compromise。　And　as　for　the　hymns　which　are　sung；　why　is　it　necessary　for　them　to　be　doggerel　before　they　are　devotional？〃

〃The　hymns　are　for　the　most　part　doggerel。　We　should　have　a　first…rate　choir　and　anthemsnot　necessarily　taken　from　the　Bible。　Why　should　not　Shakspere　be　sung　in　churchesShakspere's　divine　poetry　instead　of　the　nonsense…rhymes　that　people　call　hymns？　Shakspere　and　Milton；　Shelley　I　would　not　debar；　Wordsworth's　sonnets。　But　the　scheme　will　require　a　great　deal　of　thought。〃

〃A　great　deal；　that　is　why　I　leave　it　in　your　hands。　You　are　a　thinking　manyou　are　not　afraid　of　tradition。〃

〃Traditiontradition！　the　ruts　made　in　the　road　by　the　vehicles　that　have　passed　over　it　in　years　gone　by！〃

〃The　road　to　the　Church　is　sadly　in　need　of　macadamizing；　Mr。　Holland　or；　better　still；　asphalting。　Make　a　bicycle　road　of　it；　and　you　are　all　right。　Now；　come　with　me　to　my　club　and　have　lunch。　We'll　talk　no　more　just　now　about　this　matter。〃

They　went　out　together。



CHAPTER　XXX。

THERE　IS　NO　ONE　I　LIKE　BETTER　THAN　PHYLLIS。

Phyllis　Ayrton　had　spent　a　considerable　time　pondering　over　that　problem　of　how　best　to　save　a　man　and　a　woman　from　destruction　social；　perhaps；　eternal；　for　certain。　She　felt　that　it　had　been　laid　upon　her　to　save　them　both；　and　she　remembered　the　case　of　one　Jonah；　a　prophet；　who；　in　endeavoring　to　escape　from　the　disagreeable　duty　with　which　he　had　been　intrusted；　had　had　an　experience　that　was　practically　unique；　even　among　prophets。　She　would　not　try　to　evade　her　responsibility　in　this　matter。

A　few　days　after　Herbert　Courtland　had　witnessed　by　the　side　of　Ella　the　representation　of　〃Carmen；〃　he　had　met　Phyllis　at　an　At　Home。　He　had　seen　her　in　the　distance　through　a　vista　of　crowded　rooms；　and　had　crushed　his　way　to　her　side。　He　could　scarcely　fail　to　see　the　little　light　that　came　to　her　face　as　she　put　out　her　hand　to　him；　nor　could　her　companion　of　the　momenthe　was　one　of　the　coming　men　in　science；　consequently　like　most　coming　men；　he　had　been　forced　into　a　prominent　place　in　the　drawing　roomfail　to　perceive　that　his　farewell　moment　with　that　pretty　Miss　Ayrton　had　come。　She　practically　turned　her　back　upon　him　when　Herbert　Courtland　came　up。

For　some　moments　they　chatted　together；　and　then　it　occurred　to　him　that　she　might　like　some　iced　coffee。　His　surmise　proved　correct；　and　as　there　was　at　that　moment　a　stream　of　people　endeavoring　to　avoid　the　entertainment　of　the　high…class　pianoforte　player　which　was　threatened　in　a　neighboring　apartment；　Phyllis　and　her　companion　had　no　trouble　in　slipping　aside　from　the　panic…stricken　people　into　the　tea　room。

It　was　a　sultry　day；　and　the　French　windows　of　the　room　were　open。　It　was　Phyllis　who　discovered　that　there　was　a　narrow　veranda；　with　iron…　work　covered　with　creepers；　running　halfway　r