CHAPTER IX

ysowithallduereverence,isthatitisone-sided.Itisamonologue,saidtheBishop—alsowithallduereverence—andintroublesofthekindhewasinoneneedstobesureoneisbeingattendedto.Hedidnotthinkhecouldpossiblybebeingattendedto,because,prayashemight,withdrawandwrestleashemight,hecontinuedtowanttoshakehisdaughter. Fortherewastheconstantirritationgoingonoftheaffairsofthediocesegettingintoamorehopelessdisorder.Allthattimeshewasawayguiltilygadding,andnowallthistimeshewasnotawaybutunavailabletillsheshouldhaveutterlyrepented,hisletterswerepilingthemselvesupintoconfusedheaps,andhisengagementswereawildernessinwhichhewanderedaloneinthedark.Thechaplainandthetypistdidwhattheycould,buttheyhadnotbeenwithhimsolongashisdaughterandwerenotpossessedofthemechanicalbrainlessnessthatmakesawomansosatisfactoryasasecretary.Hisdaughter,nothavingwhatmightbecalledactualbrains,wasnottroubledbythought.Thedistressesofpossiblealternativesdidnotdisturbher.Shedidnot,therefore,disturbhimbysuggestingthem.Shewasmechanicallymeticulous.Sherespecteddetail.Sheremembered.Sheknewnotonlywhathadtobedone,whichwaseasy,butwhathadtobedoneexactlyfirst.Andboththechaplainandthetypistweremenwithideas,andinsteadofassistinghimalongonestraightandnarrowpathwhichistheonlywayofreallygettinganywhere,including,rememberedtheBishop,toheaven,theywereconstantlylookingtotherightandtheleft,doubting,weighing,hesitating.Thechaplainhadasmanyeyesforaquestionasafly,andsawitfromasmanyangles.Fairness,desirability,theprobableviewsoftheotherside,theirequalTightness,thesethingsfalteredinterminablyroundeachlettertobeanswered,werehesitatedoverinterminablyinthemellowintonationsofthatlarge-minded,well-educatedyoungman'svoice,andhewasechoedandsupportedbythetypist,whowasalsofromOxford,andhadbeengiventhischanceofnearnesstothemostdistinguishedofbishopsatsuchayouthfulagethattheundergraduatemilkhadnotyetdriedonthecornersofhiseloquentandhesitatingmouth,andgaveapeculiarlysicklyflavour,thoughttheirritatedBishop,towhatevercameoutofit. TheBishopfeltthatifthiswentonmuchlongertheworkofthediocesewouldcometoastandstill.IntendaystheEasterrecesswouldbeover,andhewasdueintheHouseofLords,wherehehadbeenputdownforaspeechontheHomeRuleBillfromthepointofviewofsimplefaith,andhowwashetoleavethingsinthismuddleathome,andhowwashetohavethepeaceofmind,theemptyclarity,appropriatetoaproperapproachofthemeasureifhisinwardeyewentrovingawaytoRedchesterallthetimeandtotheincreasingconfusiononhisstudytable? ThetrailofIngeborgwasoverallhisday.When,warmandruffledfromprayer,heplungeddownintohisworkagain,hecouldnotdoathingwithoutbeingremindedshewasnotthere.Hewasforcedtothinkofhereverymomentofhistime.Itwasignoble,butwithoutherhewaslikeanactorwhohaslearnednothispartbuttoleanontheprompter,andwhofindshimselfonthestagewiththepromptergonedeadinhisbox.Shewasdeadtohim,deadinobstinatesinanddignitydemandedsheshouldcontinuedeaduntilshecameofherownaccordandtoldhimshehaddonewiththatterribleaffairoftheEastPrussianpastor.Hedidnotknowwhetherhewouldthenforgiveher—hewouldprobablydeferforgivenessasadisciplinarymeasure,afterhavingimploredheaven'sguidance—buthewouldallowacertainamountofresurrection,sufficienttoenablehert