 For at one period the
priests did cherish and protect the weak from animal man. But we have entered a
broader daylight now, when the sun of high heaven has crowned our structure with
the flower of brain, like him to scatter mists, and penetrate darkness, and
shoot from end to end of earth; and must we still be grinning subserviently to
ancient usages and stale forms, because of a baggage that it is, woe to us! too
true, we cannot cut ourselves loose from? Lydiard might say we are compelling
the priests to fight, and that they are compact foemen, not always passive.
Battle, then! - The cry was valiant. Nevertheless, Jenny would certainly insist
upon the presence of a parson, in spite of her bridegroom's natural repugnance.
Dr. Shrapnel offered to argue it with her, being of opinion that a British
consul could satisfactorily perform the ceremony. Beau-champ knew her too well.
Moreover, though tongue-tied as to love-making, he was in a hurry to be married.
Jenny's eyes were lovely, her smiles were soft; the fair promise of her was in
bloom on her face and figure. He could not wait; he must off to the parson.
    Then came the question as to whether honesty and honour did not impose it on
them to deal openly with that gentle, and on such occasions unobtrusive
official, by means of a candid statement to him overnight, to the effect that
they were the avowed antagonists of his Church, which would put him on his
defence, and lead to an argument that would accomplish his overthrow. - You
parsons, whose cause is good, marshal out the poor of the land, that we may see
the sort of army your steward-ship has gained for you. What! no army? only women
and hoary men? And in the rear rank, to support you as an institution, none but
fanatics, cowards, white-eye-balled dogmatists, timeservers, money-changers,
mockers in their sleeves? What is this?
    But the prospect of so completely confounding the unfortunate parson warned
Beauchamp that he might have a shot in his locker: the parson heavily trodden on
will turn. »I suppose we must be hypocrites,« he said in dejection. Dr. Shrapnel
was even more melancholy. He again offered to try his persuasiveness upon Jenny.
Beauchamp declined to let her be disturbed.
    She did not yield so very lightly to the invitation to go before a parson.
She had to be wooed after all; a Harry Hotspur's wooing.
