The Canon in Residence

Отрывок из книги

Victor L. Whitechurch

The Canon in Residence

.....

“Yes–for half an hour. And then, when you were gone, there would be an exhibition of human nature–at your expense. That’s what I complain of–a salutary check! My dear sir, it isn’t simply a matter of half-a-dozen louts stopping their tongues. It’s more than this. Your office, and the artificial respect for it, prevent you from ever getting hold of thousands of opinions and thoughts, speculations and convictions. You churchmen are in a fool’s paradise, and the hedge round it is the “respect for your office.’ Some day that hedge will be cut down–from outside. And then you’ll see.”

“You are candid–very candid,” said the clergyman slowly. For a minute or two he smoked in silence and with contracted brows. He was not accustomed to have things thrust upon him thus. It was unlike the speeches of laymen at church conferences and opinions expressed in the correspondence of the Guardian. The other watched him with an amused smile, much enjoying the situation.

.....