ct to this question. Aumerle and the Executive, however, are
dead against any proceedings at all. They think we ought to give our
Association a more secular character. They say we are hampered by too
vehement a religious tone. They say that broad Christian principles are
more workable. Besides, the word Christian always attracts the
Nonconformists in spite of themselves. They are bound to support you if
you stick to the line of a believer in Christ--irrespective of
particular doctrines. And so on and so on. I prefer something more hard
and fast myself. Yet they may be right. One must go with the times."

He shifted his chair several times during this speech, looking first at
Orange and then at Sara for encouragement.

"Your Executive are poor creatures," said Sara, with a curling lip;
"your weak theologians have become flabby politicians--their one rule of
action is to avoid everything which demands even the possibility of
self-sacrifice or adverse criticism."

"That is most unfair," said Reckage hotly. "One must see where one is
going."

"The world," said Sara, "in the long run, despises those who pander to
it."

"Yes, but it is in the _long_ run, and no mistake! What a fellow you
are, Robert! Why don't you suggest something? Are you trying to find the
civilest thing you can say of the performance?"

"It is the system which you must attack in the present difficulty. The
system is at fault--not Dr. Temple," said Robert.

"No other system can be now looked to as a substitute," answered Reckage
impatiently. "The thing cannot be done away now, the danger is too
near."

"Exactly. The English can never deal with systems or ideas. They can
only attack individuals--you depend in a crisis on the passions of men,
never on their reason. Whereas if you overhauled their reason, worked
it, and trained it, the passions, at the critical moment, would be
roused with better effect, and would be properly organised. Organised
passions are what you need for a strong public movement. Whirling
emotions in contrary currents are utterly futile."

"I daresay. I hoped we might make such efforts as to fix a lasting
impression on both Houses that the State appointment of bishops, coupled
with the farce of a _conge d'elire_, is rank blasphemy. This outrage on
good taste ought to occupy the attention of every man. It is quite
enough to fill the minds of all."

"It won't," said Robert. "You must remember that whatever strikes the
mind of