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ad promised to be his wife？
Before going to bed he had written replies to the two letters。 The bishop had suggested an early hour for their interviewhe had named eleven o'clock as convenient to himself； if it would also suit Mr。 Holland。 Two o'clock was the hour suggested by Mr。 Linton； if that hour would not interfere with the other engagements of Mr。 Holland； so he had written agreements to the suggestions of both his correspondents。
At eleven o'clock exactly he drove through the gates of the Palace of the bishop； and with no faltering hand pulled the bell。 （So； he reflected for an instant；only an instant；Luther had gone； somewhere or other； he forgot at the moment what was the exact locality； but the occasion had been a momentous one in the history of the Church。）
He was cordially greeted by the bishop； who said：
〃How do you do； Holland？ I took it for granted that you were an early riserthat's why I ventured to name eleven。〃
〃No hour could suit me better to…day；〃 said George； accepting the seat he perceived at once that it was a genuine Chippendale chair upholstered in old red moroccoto which his lordship made a motion with his hand。 He did not； however； seat himself until the bishop had occupied； which he did very comfortably； the corresponding chair at the side of the study desk。
〃I was anxious to have a chat with you about that book； and that article of yours in the /Zeit Geist/； Holland；〃 said the bishop。 〃I wish you had written neither。〃
〃/Litera scripta manet/；〃 said George； with a smile。
One may quote Latin in conversation with a bishop without being thought a prig。 In a letter to the /Times/ and in conversation with a bishop are the only two occasions in these unclassical days when one may safely quote Latin or Greek。
〃That's the worst of it；〃 said the prelate； with a shake of his head that was Early Norman。 〃Yes； you see a book isn't like a sermon。 People don't remember a man's sermons against him nowadays； they do his books； however。〃
〃I am quite ready to accept the conditions of modern life； my lord；〃 said George。
〃I was anxious to give you my opinion as early as possible；〃 resumed the bishop； 〃and that is； that what you have just publishedthe book and the /Zeit Geist/ articlereflectyes； in no inconsiderable measurewhat I have long thought。〃
〃I am flattered； indeed； my lord。〃
〃You need not be； Holland。 I believe that there are a large number of thinking men in the Church who are trying to solve the problem with which you have so daringly grappledthe problem of how to induce intellectual men and women to attend the services of the church。 I'm afraid that there is a great deal of truth in what you say about the Church herself bearing responsibility for the existence of this problem。〃
〃There is no setting aside that fact； my lord。〃
〃Alas！ that short…sighted policy has been the Church's greatest enemy from the earliest period。 You remember what St。 Augustine says？ Ah； never mind just now。 About your bookthat's the matter before us just now。 I must say that I don't consider the present time the most suitable for the issue of that book； or that article in the /Zeit Geist/。 You meant them to be startling。 Well； they are startling。 There are some complaintsnervous complaintsthat require to be startled out of the system； that's a phrase of Sir Richard's。 He made use of it in regard to my neuralgia。 'We must surprise it out of the system；' said he； 'with a large dose of quinine。' The phrase seemed to me to be a very striking one。 But the Church is not neurotic。 You cannot apply the surprise method to her system with any chance of success。 That is wherein the publication of your article seems to me to beshall we call it premature？ It is calculated to startle； but you cannot startle people into going to church； my dear Holland； and that is； of course； the only object you hope to achieve。 Your book and your article were written with the sole object of bringing intelligent people to church。 But it occurs to me； and I think it will occur to you also； that if the article be taken seriously；and it is meant to be taken seriously；it may be the means of keeping people away from the Church rather than bringing them to church。 It may even be the means of alienating from that fond； if somewhat foolish old mother of ours； many of her children who are already attached to her。 I trust I don't speak harshly。〃
〃Your lordship speaks most kindly； but the truth〃
〃Should be spoken as gently as possible when it is calculated to wound； Holland； that is why I trust I am speaking gently now。 Ah； Holland！ there are the little children to be considered as well as the Scribes and Pharisees。 There are weaker brethren。 You have heard of the necessity for considering the weaker brethren。〃
〃I seem to have heard of nothing else since I entered the Church； all the brethren are the weaker brethren。〃
〃They are； I am one of the weaker brethren myself。 It is all a question of comparison。 I don't say that your article is likely to have the effect of causing me to join the band of non…church…goers。 I don't at this moment believe that it will drive me to golf instead of Gospel； but I honestly do believe that it is calculated to do that to hundreds of persons who just now require but the smallest grain of argument to turn the balance of their minds in favor of golf。 Your aim was not in that direction； I'm sure； Holland。〃
〃My aim was to speak the truth； my lord。〃
〃In order to achieve a noble objectthe gathering of the stragglers into the fold。〃
〃That was my motive； my lord。〃
〃You announce boldly that this old mother of ours is in a moribund condition； in order that you may gather in as many of her scattered children as possible to stand at her bedside？ Ah； my dear Holland！ the moribund brings together the wolves and the vultures and all unclean； hungry things to try and get a mouthful off those prostrate limbs of hersa mouthful while her flesh is still warm。 I tell you thisI who have from time to time during the last fifty years heard the howl of the hyena； seen the talons of the vulture at the door of her chamber。 They fancied that the end could not be far off； that no more strength was left in that aged body that lay prone for the moment。 But I have heard the howling wane into the distance and get lost in the outer darkness when the old Church roused herself and went forth to face the snarling teeththe eager talons。 There is life in this mighty old mother of ours still。 New life comes to her； not as it did to the fabled hero of old； by contact with the earth； but by communing with heaven。 The bark of the wolf； the snarl of the hyena； may be heard in the debate which the Government have encouraged in the House of Commons on the Church。 Philistia rejoices。 Let the movers in this obscene tumult look to themselves。 Have they the confidence of the people even as the Church has that confidence？ Let them put it to the test。 I tell you； George Holland； the desert and the ditch； whose vomit those men are who now move against us in Parliament； shall receive them once more before many months have passed。 The Church on whom they hoped to prey shall witness their dispersal； never again to return。 I know the signs。 I know what the present silence throughout the country means。 The champion of God and the Church has drawn his breath for the conflict。 His teeth are sethis weapon is in his hand you will see the result within a year。 We shall have a government in power； a government whose power will not be dependent on the faddists and the self…seekersthe ignorant； the blatant bellowers of pitiful platitudes； the platform loafers who call themselves labor…leaders； but whom the real laborers repudiate。 Mark my words； their doom is sealed； back to the desert and the ditch！ My dear Holland； pardon this digression。 I feel that I need say nothing more to you than I have already said。 The surprise system of therapeutics is not suited to the existing ailments of the Church。 Caution is what is needed if you would not defeat your own worthy object； which； I know； is to give fresh vitality to the Church。〃
〃That is certainly my object； my lord； only let me say that〃
〃My dear Holland； I will not let you say anything。 I asked you to come here this morning in order that you might hear me。 That is all that is necessary for the present。 Perhaps； upon some future occasion； I may have the privilege of hearing you in a discourse of some greater length than that which I have just inflicted upon you。 I have given you my candid opinion of your writings； and you know that is the opinion of a man who has but one object in lifeyou know that it is the opinion of an old man who has seen the beginning and the end of many movements in society and in the Church； and who has learned that the Church； for all her decrepitude； is yet the most stable thing that the world has seen。 I have to thank you for coming to me； Holland。〃
〃Your lordship has spoken to me with the greatest kindness；〃 said George Holland； as his spiritual father offered him his hand。
In a few minutes he was in his hansom once more。
CHAPTER XXIX。
I KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER MUCH TO GOD WHAT A MAN THINKS ABOUT HIMSELF OR HIS SOUL。
For the next hour and a half the Rev