goings-on,
and their seeming success in this mucky lump of a planet, he just reached down
t' owd book (pointing to a great Bible in the bookcase), opened it like at a
chance, and he was sure to light of a verse blazing wi' a blue brimstone low
that set all straight. He knew,« he said, »where some folk war bound for, just
as weel as if an angel, wi' great white wings, had come in ower t' door-stone
and told him.«
    »Sir,« said Mr. Helstone, collecting all his dignity. »Sir - the great
knowledge of man is to know himself, and the bourne whither his own steps tend.«
    »Ay, ay! you'll recollect, Mr. Helstone, that Ignorance was carried away
from the very gates of heaven, borne through the air, and thrust in at a door in
the side of the hill which led down to hell.«
    »Nor have I forgotten, Mr. Yorke, that Vain-Confidence, not seeing the way
before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made by the prince
of the grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed to pieces
with his fall.«
    »Now,« interposed Mr. Moore, who had hitherto sat a silent but amused
spectator of this wordy combat, and whose indifference to the party politics of
the day, as well as to the gossip of the neighbourhood, made him an impartial,
if apathetic, judge of the merits of such an encounter - »you have both
sufficiently black-balled each other, and proved how cordially you detest each
other, and how wicked you think each other. For my part, my hate is still
running in such a strong current against the fellows who have broken my frames,
that I have none to spare for my private acquaintance, and still less for such a
vague thing as a sect or a government: but really, gentlemen, you both seem very
bad, by your own shewing; worse than ever I suspected you to be. I dare not stay
all night with a rebel and blasphemer, like you, Yorke; and I hardly dare ride
home with a cruel and tyrannical ecclesiastic, like Mr. Helstone.«
    »I am going, however, Mr. Moore;« said the Rector sternly: »come with me or
not, as you please.«
    »Nay, he shall not have the choice - he shall go with you,« responded Yorke.