Chapter XII

n’tstepin:afterallweareestablishedbylawandthelawoughttoprotectusfromencroachment.” “Youdon’tbelieveinlibertyofconscience?”askedMissLey. “MydearMissLey,”saidtheVicar,inhistiredvoice,“everythinghasitslimits.IshouldhavethoughttherewasintheEstablishedChurchenoughlibertyofconscienceforanyone.” “ThingsarebecomingdreadfulinLeanham,”saidMissGlover.“Practicallyallthetradesmengotochapelnow,anditmakesitsodifficultforus.” “Yes,”repliedtheVicar,withawearysigh“andasifwehadn’tenoughtoputupwith,IhearthatWalkerhasceasedcomingtochurch.” “Ohdear,ohdear!”saidMissGlover. “Walker,thebaker?”askedEdward. “YesandnowtheonlybakerinLeanhamwhogoestochurchisAndrews.” “Well,wecan’tpossiblydealwithhim,Charles,”saidMissGlover,“hisbreadistoobad.” “Mydear,wemust,”groanedherbrother.“Itwouldbeagainstallmyprinciplestodealwithatradesmanwhogoestochapel.YoumusttellWalkertosendhisbookin,unlesshewillgiveanassurancethathe’llcometochurchregularly.” “ButAndrews’sbreadalwaysgivesyouindigestion,Charles,”criedMissGlover. “Imustputupwithit.Ifnoneofourmartyrdomsweremoreseriousthanthat,weshouldhavenocausetocomplain.” “Well,it’squiteeasytogetyourbreadfromTercanbury,”saidMrs.Ramsay,whowasseverelypractical. Mr.Gloverandhissisterthrewuptheirhandsindismay. “ThenAndrewswouldgotochapeltoo.Theonlythingthatkeepsthematchurch,I’msorrytosay,istheVicaragecustom,orthehopeofgettingit.” PresentlyMissLeyfoundherselfalonewiththeparson’ssister. “YoumustbeverygladtoseeBerthaagain,MissLey.” “Nowshe’sgoingtocrow,”thoughtthegoodlady.“OfcourseIam.” “Anditmustbesucharelieftoyoutoseehowwellit’sallturnedout.” MissLeylookedsharplyatMissGlover,butsawnotraceofirony. “Oh,Ithinkit’sbeautifultoseeamarriedcouplesothoroughlyhappy.ItreallymakesmefeelabetterwomanwhenIcomehereandseehowthosetwoworshiponeanother.” “Ofcoursethepoorthing’saperfectidiot,”thoughtMissLey.“Yes,it’sverysatisfactory,”shesaid,drily. SheglancedroundforDr.Ramsay,lookingforward,notwithstandingthatshewasonthelosingside,tothetusslesheforesaw.Shehadtheinstinctsofagoodfighter,and,eventhoughdefeatwasinevitable,neveravoidedanencounter.Thedoctorapproached. “Well,MissLey.Soyouhavecomebacktous.We’realldelightedtoseeyou.” “Howcordialthesepeopleare,”thoughtMissLey,somewhatcrossly,thinkingDr.Ramsay’sremarkpreliminarytocoarsebanterortoreproach.“ShallwetakeaturninthegardenI’msureyouwishtoquarrelwithme.” “There’snothingIshouldlikebetter—towalkinthegarden,Imean:ofcourse,noonecouldquarrelwithsocharmingapersonasyourself.” “Hewouldneverbesopoliteifhedidnotmeanafterwardstobeveryrude,”thoughtMissLey.“I’mgladyoulikethegarden.” “Craddockhasimproveditsowonderfully.It’saperfectpleasuretolookatallhe’sdone.” ThisMissLeyconsideredagibe,andsearchedforarepartee,butfindingnonewassilen