按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s arms and kissed him！ Oh； God； forgive me！〃
That was her prayer for the greater part of the night as she lay in her white bed。
She felt that she had sinned grievously in thought against her friend； when she recalled the way in which her friend had thrown herself into the arms of her husband。 That was the one action which the girl felt should entitle Ella Linton to be the subject of no such horrid thought as had been for a shocking instant forced upon her mind； when she reflected upon the strange passion which had tingled through Ella's repetition of the fiery words of /Juliet/。
She recalled every strange element in the incident of Ella's appearance in the drawing room： the way in which Ella had kissed her and clung to her as a child might have done on finding someone to protect it； she recalled the wild words which Ella had uttered； and； finally； the terrible expression which had appeared on her face as she whispered that reckless answer to Phyllis' question； when she had picked up her wrap and flung it around her just before the sound of footsteps had come to their ears。 All that she recalled in connection with that extraordinary visit of Ella's was quite intelligible to her； but the mystery of all was more than neutralized by her recollection of the way Ella had thrown herself into her husband's arms。 That action should； she felt； be regarded as the one important factor； as it were； in the solution of the problem of Ella's moodElla's series of moods。 Nothing else that she had done； nothing that she had said； was worthy of being taken account of； alongside that dominant act of the true wife。
The little whisper which suggested to her that there was a good deal that was mysterious in the incident of her friend's visit she refused to regard as rendering it less obligatory on herPhyllisto pray that she might be forgiven that horrid suspicion which； for an instant； had come to her； and so she fell asleep praying to God to forgive her for her sin （in thought） against her friend。
And while Phyllis was praying her prayer； her friend； the True Wife； was praying with her face down upon her pillow； and her bare arms stretched out over the white lace of the bed：
〃Forgive me； O God； forgive me！ and keep him away from meforever and ever and ever。 Amen。〃
And while both these prayers were being prayed； Herbert Courtland was sitting on one of the deck stools of the yacht /Water Nymph/； looking back at the many lights that gleamed in clusters along the southern coast of England； now far astern； for a light breeze was sending the boat along with a creaming； quivering wake。 In the bows a youth was making the night hideous through the agency of a banjo and a sham negro melody。 Amidships； Lord Earlscourt and two other men were playing； by the light of a lantern slung from the backstay； a game called poker； Lord Earlscourt； at every fresh deal； trying to make the rest understand how greatly the worry of being held responsible； as the patron of the living of St。 Chad's； for the eccentricities of his rector； had affected his nervesa matter upon which his friends assured him； with varied degrees of emphasis； they were in no way interested。
Within a few feet of these congenial shipmates Herbert Courtland sat looking across the shining ripples to the shining lights of the coast； wondering how he came to be on the sea instead of on the shore。 Was this indeed the night over which his imagination had gloated for months？ Was it indeed possible that this was the very night following the dayThursdayfor which he had engaged himself in accordance with the letter that he still carried in his pocket？
How on earth did it come that he was sitting with his arm over the bulwarks of a yacht instead of Oh； the thing was a miraclea miracle！ He could think of it in no other light than that of a miracle。
Well； if it were a miracle； it had been the work of God； and God had to be thanked for it。 He had explained to Phyllis once that he thought of God only as a Principleas the Principle which worked in opposition to the principle of nature。 That was certainly the God which had been evolved out of modern civilization。 The pagan gods had been just the opposite。 They had been founded on natural principles。 The Hebrew tradition that God had made man in his own image was the reverse of the scheme of the pagan man who had made God after his own image； in the image of man created he God。
But holding the theory that he heldthat God was the sometimes successful opponent to the principles of nature （which he called the Devil）Herbert Courtland felt that this was the very God to whom his thanks were due for the miracle that had been performed on his behalf。
〃Thank Godthank Godthank God！〃 he murmured； looking out over the rippling waters； steel gray in the soft shadow of the summer's night。
But then he held that 〃thank God〃 was but a figure of speech。
〃Tinky…tink； tinky…tink； tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tink；〃 went the youth with the banjo in the bows。
CHAPTER XXIII。
ITS MOUTHINGS OF THE PAST HAD BECOME ITS MUMBLINGS OF THE PRESENT。
It was very distressingvery disappointing！ The bishop would neither institute proceedings against the rector of St。 Chad's nor state plainly if it was his intention to proceed against that clergyman。 When some people suggested very delicatelythe way ordinary people would suggest anything to a bishopthat it was surely not in sympathy with the organization of the Church for any clergyman to take advantage of his position and his pulpit to cast sometimes ridicule； sometimes abuse； upon certain 〃scriptural characters〃that was their phrasewho had hitherto always been regarded as sacred； comparatively sacred； the bishop had brought the tips of the fingers of one hand in immediate； or almost immediate； contact with the tips of the fingers of his other hand； and had shaken his headmournfully； sadly。 These signs of acquiescence； trifling though they were； had encouraged the deputation that once waited on his lordshiptwo military men （retired on the age clause）； an officer of engineers （on the active list）； a solicitor （retired）； and a member of the London County Council （by occupation an ironmonger）； to express the direct opinion that the scandal which had been created by the disseminationthe unrebuked disseminationof the doctrines held by the rector of St。 Chad's was affording the friends of Disestablishment an additional argument in favor of their policy of spoliation。 At this statement his lordship had nodded his head three times with a gravity that deeply impressed the spokesman of the deputation。 He wondered if his lordship had ever before heard that phrase about the furnishing of an additional argument to the friends of Disestablishment。 （As a matter of fact his lordship had heard it before。）
After an expression of the deputation's opinion that immediate steps should be taken to make the rector of St。 Chad's amenable to the laws of the Church；
His lordship replied。
（It was his facility in making conciliatory replies that had brought about his elevation in the Church）：
He referred to （1） his deep appreciation of the sincerity of the deputation； （2） his own sense of responsibility in regard to the feelings of the weaker brethren； （3） his appreciation of the value of the counsel of practical men in many affairs of the Church； （4） the existing position of the Church in regard to the laity； （5） the friendly relations that had always existed between himself personally and the clergy of his extensive diocese； （6） his earnest and prayerful desire that these relations might be strengthened； （7） the insecurity of a house divided against itself； （8） the progress of socialism； （9） the impossibility of socialism commending itself to Englishmen； （10） the recent anarchist outrages； （11） the purity of the Court of her Majesty the Queen； （12） the union of all Christian Churches； （13） the impossibility of such union ever becoming permanent； （14） the value of Holy Scripture in daily life； （15） his firm belief in the achievement of England's greatness by means of the open Bible； （16） the note of pessimism in modern life； （17） the necessity for the Church's combating modern pessimism； （18） the Church's position as a purveyor of healthy literature for the young； （19） his reluctance to take up any more of their valuable time； and （20） his assurance that the remarks of their spokesman would have his earnest and prayerful attention。
The deputation then thanked his lordship and withdrew。
But still the bishop made no move in the matter； and the friends of the Rev。 George Holland felt grievously disappointed。 They had counted on the bishop's at least writing a letter of remonstrance to the rector of St。 Chad's； and upon the publication of the letter； with the rector's reply in the newspapers； but now quite two months had passed since the appearance of 〃Revised Versions；〃 the bishop had returned from the Engadine； and still there were no indications of his intention to make the Rev。 George Holland responsible to the right tribunalwhatever that wasfor his doctrines。 They counted on his martyrdom within six months； and； consequently； upon his election to a position of distinction in the eyes of his fellow…country…menor； at