to say so。 Good…bye to you； and may no ill befall you ere you get
home。〃
My father grasped his hand in both his own。 〃Again；〃 he said； 〃I
can say no more than that I thank you from the bottom of my heart。〃
As he spoke he bowed his head； and went out with George into the
night。
CHAPTER XXV： GEORGE ESCORTS MY FATHER TO THE STATUES； THE TWO THEN
PART
The streets were quite deserted as George had said they would be；
and very dark； save for an occasional oil lamp。
〃As soon as we can get within the preserves；〃 said George； 〃we had
better wait till morning。 I have a rug for myself as well as for
you。〃
〃I saw you had two；〃 answered my father； 〃you must let me carry
them both； the provisions are much the heavier load。
George fought as hard as a dog would do； till my father said that
they must not quarrel during the very short time they had to be
together。 On this George gave up one rug meekly enough； and my
father yielded about the basket； and the other rug。
It was about half…past eleven when they started； and it was after
one before they reached the preserves。 For the first mile from the
town they were not much hindered by the darkness； and my father
told George about his book and many another matter； he also
promised George to say nothing about this second visit。 Then the
road became more rough； and when it dwindled away to be a mere
lanebecoming presently only a foot trackthey had to mind their
footsteps； and got on but slowly。 The night was starlit； and warm；
considering that they were more than three thousand feet above the
sea； but it was very dark； so that my father was well enough
pleased when George showed him the white stones that marked the
boundary； and said they had better soon make themselves as
comfortable as they could till morning。
〃We can stay here；〃 he said； 〃till half…past three； there will be a
little daylight then； we will rest half an hour for breakfast at
about five； and by noon we shall be at the statues； where we will
dine。〃
This being settled； George rolled himself up in his rug； and in a
few minutes went comfortably off to sleep。 Not so my poor father。
He wound up his watch； wrapped his rug round him； and lay down； but
he could get no sleep。 After such a day； and such an evening； how
could any one have slept？
About three the first signs of dawn began to show； and half an hour
later my father could see the sleeping face of his sonwhom it
went to his heart to wake。 Nevertheless he woke him； and in a few
minutes the two were on their wayGeorge as fresh as a larkmy
poor father intent on nothing so much as on hiding from George how
ill and unsound in body and mind he was feeling。
They walked on； saying but little； till at five by my father's
watch George proposed a halt for breakfast。 The spot he chose was
a grassy oasis among the trees； carpeted with subalpine flowers；
now in their fullest beauty； and close to a small stream that here
came down from a side valley。 The freshness of the morning air；
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；
kno