The Way of All Flesh

第71章

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第71章

The Way of All Flesh Samuel Butler

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The Way of All Flesh
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  DuringthissameabsencewhathadMrsGoodhewandoldMissWrighttakentodoingbutturningtowardstheeastwhilerepeatingtheBelief?Theobalddislikedthisevenworsethanchanting。Whenhesaidsomethingaboutitinatimidwayatdinnerafterservice,Charlottesaid,“Really,papadear,youMUSTtaketocallingitthe’Creed’andnotthe’Belief’“;andTheobaldwincedimpatientlyandsnortedmeekdefiance,butthespiritofherauntsJaneandElizawasstronginCharlotte,andthethingwastoosmalltofightabout,andheturneditoffwithalaugh。“AsforCharlotte。”thoughtChristina,“IbelievesheknowsEVERYTHING。”SoMrsGoodhewandoldMissWrightcontinuedtoturntotheeastduringthetimetheCreedwassaid,andby-and-byothersfollowedtheirexample,anderelongthefewwhohadstoodoutyieldedandturnedeastwardtoo;andthenTheobaldmadeasthoughhehadthoughtitallveryrightandproperfromthefirst,butlikeithedidnot。By-and-byCharlottetriedtomakehimsay“Alleluia“insteadof“Hallelujah。”butthiswasgoingtoofar,andTheobaldturned,andshegotfrightenedandranaway。

  Andtheychangedthedoublechantsforsingleones,andalteredthempsalmbypsalm,andinthemiddleofpsalms,justwhereacursoryreaderwouldseenoreasonwhytheyshoulddoso,theychangedfrommajortominorandfromminorbacktomajor;andthentheygot“HymnsAncientandModern。”and,asIhavesaid,theyrobbedhimofhisbelovedbands,andtheymadehimpreachinasurplice,andhemusthavecelebrationoftheHolyCommuniononceamonthinsteadofonlyfivetimesintheyearasheretofore,andhestruggledinvainagainsttheunseeninfluencewhichhefelttobeworkinginseasonandoutofseasonagainstallthathehadbeenaccustomedtoconsidermostdistinctiveofhisparty。Whereitwas,orwhatitwas,heknewnot,norexactlywhatitwoulddonext,butheknewexceedinglywellthatgowherehewoulditwasundermininghim;thatitwastoopersistentforhim;thatChristinaandCharlottelikeditagreatdealbetterthanhedid,andthatitcouldendinnothingbutRome。Easterdecorationsindeed!Christmasdecorations——inreason——wereproperenough,butEasterdecorations!well,itmightlasthistime。

  ThiswasthecoursethingshadtakenintheChurchofEnglandduringthelastfortyyears。Thesethasbeensteadilyinonedirection。

  Afewmenwhoknewwhattheywantedmadecats’pawsoftheChristmasandtheCharlottes,andtheChristmasandtheCharlottesmadecats’

  pawsoftheMrsGoodhewsandtheoldMissWrights,andMrsGoodhewsandoldMissWrightstoldtheMrGoodhewsandyoungMissWrightswhattheyshoulddo,andwhentheMrGoodhewsandtheyoungMissWrightsdiditthelittleGoodhewsandtherestofthespiritualflockdidastheydid,andtheTheobaldswentfornothing;stepbystep,daybyday,yearbyyear,parishbyparish,diocesebydiocesethiswashowitwasdone。AndyettheChurchofEnglandlookswithnofriendlyeyesuponthetheoryofEvolutionorDescentwithModification。

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