the extreme beauty of the place； the lovely birds that flitted from
tree to tree； the exquisite shapes and colours of the flowers；
still dew…bespangled； and above all； the tenderness with which
George treated him； soothed my father； and when he and George had
lit a fire and made some hot corn…coffeewith a view to which Yram
had put up a bottle of milkhe felt so much restored as to look
forward to the rest of his journey without alarm。 Moreover he had
nothing to carry； for George had left his own rug at the place
where they had slept； knowing that he should find it on his return；
he had therefore insisted on carrying my father's。 My father
fought as long as he could； but he had to give in。
〃Now tell me；〃 said George； glad to change the subject； 〃what will
those three men do about what you said to them last night？ Will
they pay any attention to it？〃
My father laughed。 〃My dear George； what a questionI do not know
them well enough。〃
〃Oh yes； you do。 At any rate say what you think most likely。〃
〃Very well。 I think Dr。 Downie will do much as I said。 He will
not throw the whole thing over； through fear of schism； loyalty to
a party from which he cannot well detach himself； and because he
does not think that the public is quite tired enough of its toy。
He will neither preach nor write against it； but he will live
lukewarmly against it； and this is what the Hankys hate。 They can
stand either hot or cold； but they are afraid of lukewarm。 In
England Dr。 Downie would be a Broad Churchman。〃
〃Do you think we shall ever get rid of Sunchildism altogether？〃
〃If they stick to the cock…and…bull stories they are telling now；
and rub them in； as Hanky did on Sunday； it may go； and go soon。
It has taken root too quickly and easily； and its top is too heavy
for its roots； still there are so many chances in its favour that
it may last a long time。〃
〃And how about Hanky？〃
〃He will brazen it out； relic； chariot； and all： and he will
welcome more relics and more cock…and…bull stories； his single eye
will be upon his own aggrandisement and that of his order。
Plausible； unscrupulous； heartless scoundrel that he is； he will
play for the queen and the women of the court； as Dr。 Downie will
play for the king and the men。 He and his party will sleep neither
night nor day； but they will have one redeeming featurewhoever
they may deceive； they will not deceive themselves。 They believe
every one else to be as bad as they are； and see no reason why they
should not push their own wares in the way of business。 Hanky is
everything that we in England rightly or wrongly believe a typical
Jesuit to be。〃
〃And Pankywhat about him？〃
〃Panky must persuade himself of his own lies； before he is quite
comfortable about telling them to other people。 Hanky keeps Hanky
well out of it； Panky must have a base of operations in Panky。
Hanky will lead him by the nose； bit by bit； for his is the master
spirit。 In England Panky would be what we call an extreme
ritualist。〃
〃Then the real battle will be between Hanky and Dr。 Downie。 Which
will carry the day？〃
〃For the present； probably Hanky。 He is the more vigilant； and
energetic； in this case Sunchildism will have to go； and I am
afraid your whole Musical Bank system will be swept away along with
it。〃
〃And why not？〃
〃Because； my dear boy； though false in the letter； if good counsels
prevail； it may be made true enough in spirit。 If it were to go；
its place would be soon filled by men who would be as false in
letter as the others were； and much more false in spirit。 You want
a heart to check your head； and a head to check your heart。 As in
our English body politic there are two parties opposed to one
another； neither of which can thrive if the other is unduly
weakened； so in our spiritual and intellectual world two parties
more or less antagonistic are equally necessary。 Those who are at
the head of science provide us with the one party； those whom we
call our churchmen are the other。 Both are corrupt； but we can
spare neither； for each checks as far as it can the corruptions of
the other。〃
〃Then you would have us uphold Sunchildism； knowing it to be
untrue？〃
〃Do what you will； you will not get perfect truth。 And if you can
follow the lead which I believe Dr。 Downie will give you； that is
to say； get rid of cock…and…bull stories； idealise my unworthy
self； and； as I said last night； make me a peg on which to hang
your own best thoughtsSunchildism will be as near truth as
anything you are likely to get。 But if Hankyism triumphs； come
what may you must get rid of it； for he and his school will tamper
with the one sure and everlasting word of God revealed to us by
human experience。 He who plays fast and loose with this is as one
who would forge God's signature to a cheque drawn on God's own
bank。〃
〃Are we to foster the belief that it was indeed the Sunchild who
interrupted Hanky's sermon？〃
〃Yes； where you safely can； but not otherwise； and commit the facts
to writing as soon as you can find time。 Do nothing to jeopardise
your own safety； you can do more by perfunctory acquiescence than
by open dissent。 And tell those friends whom you can trust； what
these my parting words to you have been。 But above all I charge
you solemnly； do nothing to jeopardise your own safety； you cannot
play into Hanky's hands more certainly than by risking this。 Think
how he and Panky would rejoice； and how Dr。 Downie would grieve。
Be wise and wary； bide your time； do what you prudently can； and
you will find you can do much； try to do more； and you will do
nothing。 Be guided by the Mayor； by your motherand by that dear
old lady whose grandson you will〃
〃Then they have told you；〃 interrupted the youth blushing scarlet。
〃My dearest boy； of course they have； and I have seen her； and am
head over ears in love with her myself。〃
He was all smiles and blushes； and vowed for a few minutes that it
was a shame of them to tell me； but presently he said …
〃Then you like her。〃
〃Rather！〃 said my father vehemently； and shaking George by the
hand。 But he said nothing about the nuggets and the sovereigns；
knowing that Yram did not wish him to do so。 Neither did George
say anything about his determination to start for the capital in
the morning； and make a clean breast of everything to the King。 So
soon does it become necessary even for those who are most cordially
attached to hide things from one another。 My father； however； was
made comfortable by receiving a promise from the youth that he
would take no step of which the persons he had named would
disapprove。
When once Mrs。 Humdrum's grand…daughter had been introduced there
was no more talking about Hanky and Panky； for George began to
bubble over with the subject that was nearest his heart； and how
much he feared that it would be some time yet before he could be
married。 Many a story did he tell of his early attachment and of
its course for the last ten years； but my space will not allow me
to inflict one of them on the reader。 My father saw that the more
he listened and sympathised and encouraged； the fonder George
became of him； and this was all he cared about。
Thus did they converse hour after hour。 They passed the Blue Pool；
without seeing it or even talking about it for more than a minute。
George kept an eye on the quails and declared them fairly plentiful
and strong on the wing； but nothing now could keep him from pouring
out his whole heart about Mrs。 Humdrum's grand…daughter； until
towards noon they caught sight of the statues； and a halt was made
which gave my father the first pang he had felt that morning； for
he knew that the statues would be the beginning of the end。
There was no need to light a fire； for Yram had packed for them two
bottles of a delicious white wine； something like White Capri；
which went admirably with the many more solid good things that she
had provided for them。 As soon as they had finished a hearty meal
my father said to George； 〃You must have my watch for a keepsake； I
see you are not wearing my boots。 I fear you did not find them
comfortable； but I am glad you have not got them on； for I have set
my heart on keeping yours。〃
〃Let us settle about the boots first。 I rather fancied that that
was why you put me off when I wanted to get my own back again； and
then I thought I should like yours for a keepsake； so I put on
another pair last night； and they are nothing like so comfortable
as yours were。〃
〃Now I wonder；〃 said my father to me； 〃whether this was true； or
whether it was only that dear fellow's pretty invention； but true
or false I was as delighted as he meant me to be。〃
I asked George about this when I saw him； and he confessed with an
ingenuous blush that my father's boots had hurt him； and that he
had never thought of making a keepsake of them； till my father's
words stimulated his invention。
As for the watch； which was only a silver one； but of the best
make； George protested for a time； but when he had yielded； my
father could see that he was overjoyed at getting it； for watches；
though now permitted； were expensive and not in common use。
Having thus bribed him； my father broached the possibility of his
meeting him at the statues on that day twelvemonth； but of course
saying nothing about why he was so anxious that he should come。
〃I will come；〃 said my father； 〃not a yard farther than the
statues； and if I cannot come I will send your brother。 And I will
come at noon； but it is possible that the river down below may be
in fresh； and I may not be able to hit off the day； though I will
move heaven and earth to do so。 Therefore if I do not meet you on
the day appointed； do your best to come also at noon on the
following day。 I know how inconvenient this will be for you； and
will come true to the day if it is possible。〃
To my father's surprise； George did not raise so many difficulties
as he had expected。 He said it might be done； if neither he nor my
father were to go beyond the statues。 〃And difficult as it will be
for you；〃 said George； 〃you had better come a second day if
necessary； as I will； for who can tell what might h