When one’s wife and her favourite clergyman enter into league against one’s convictions, the chances are that the convictions will suffer. Such combinations are unfair. There are some men, for example, who would refuse to be attended by a doctor who was on very friendly terms with an undertaker; they fear the chance of collusion.
It was almost dusk when Mr. Bexley went round to Chesnut Bank, and then he found Mr. Anerley seated outside, on a carved oaken bench, under some lime-trees fronting the lawn. He was alone, and on the rude table before him were some decanters and bottles, one or two fruit-plates, and a box of cigars.
"Oh, good evening, Mr. Bexley," said the lost one; "will you have a cigar?"
"Sit down. That’s claret next you, and there’s still some sparkling Burgundy in the bottle. The children are very fond of it—I suppose because it looks like currant-jelly in hysterics."
Cigars and claret don’t seem quite the avenue by which to approach an inquiry into the condition of a man’s soul; but Mr. Bexley was too excited to heed what he did. He had the proselytising ecstasy upon him. He was like one of the old crusaders about to ride up to the gate of a godless Saracen city and demand its surrender. Did not Greatheart, when about to engage with the giant, refresh himself with the wine which Christiana carried?
"You were not at church this morning," he said, carelessly.
But his assumed carelessness was too evident; his _forte_ was not diplomacy.
"Well, no," said Mr. Anerley, quietly: he did not take the trouble to reflect on the object of the question, for he had been considering graver matters when Mr. Bexley arrived.
"You have not been to church for a long time," continued the yellow-haired, soft-voiced preacher, insidiously but nervously. "Indeed, you don’t seem to think church-going of any importance."
Mr. Anerley made no answer. Then the other, driven out of the diplomatic method of approach into his natural manner, immediately said—
"Mr. Anerley, do you never think that it is a man’s duty to think about things which are not of this world? Do you expect always to be satisfied with worldly good? You and I have had long conversations together; and I have found you so reasonable, so unprejudiced, so free to conviction, that I am amazed you do not recognise the necessity of thinking of something beyond this life that we lead just now."