Part 2 (2/2)
”But, sir, I can say I once listened to as good a sermon preached by the general as I ever heard from parson or bishop, begging your pardon,”
exclaimed Mr Sims, the colour mounting to his honest cheeks as he spoke; ”he preaches simply from the Bible, and just says what the Bible says; and that, I hold, is the best test of a good sermon.”
”The Bible, Mr Sims, is a very dangerous book, if read by the laity, without the proper interpretation of those deputed by Holy Church to explain its meaning,” emphatically replied Mr Lerew.
The lieutenant gave an involuntary whew. ”Then I suppose that you mean the Bible should not be read by us laity,” he exclaimed.
”Certainly, not without the written or verbal explanation of the priests of our Church,” answered Mr Lerew.
”And that is your opinion?” asked the lieutenant, resolving then and there that he would never allow the vicar an opportunity of explaining the Bible to him or any of his family according to his interpretation; ”and you wish this to be known in the parish, Mr Lerew?”
”Certainly, I do not desire to conceal my opinions--I speak with authority,” answered the vicar.
”But, my dear, the people may misunderstand you,” observed Mrs Lerew, who reflected that her husband had made an acknowledgment which some of his paris.h.i.+oners might take up, and perhaps cause him annoyance; but the vicar was not a man to be withheld from expressing his opinion by any such fears. He was aware that he would be supported by Sir Reginald and Lady Bygrave, and he secretly held such persons as Lieutenant Sims and the rest of his paris.h.i.+oners of inferior rank in the utmost contempt.
”I will take good care that your opinion is known, though I do not agree with it, I can tell you, Mr Lerew,” exclaimed the lieutenant, rising.
”I am sorry, Miss Pemberton, that I cannot see my excellent friend this morning. I served under him six years or more--there is no man I more esteem, and I know what his opinion is of General Caulfield. Give him my love and respects, and say I hope to have a talk with him another day when he is better. Come, my dear, it is time we should be jogging home.”
This was said to his wife; and the two rising, took their departure, receiving the most freezing of looks from the vicar and the two ladies.
At that instant a servant girl entered, to beg that Miss Pemberton would come up immediately into her master's room.
”We didn't like to interrupt you, marm, but I am afraid the captain's in a bad way,” she said, ”I will attend you,” exclaimed Mr Lerew: ”a priest is ever in his proper place beside the bed of the dying.”
Without waiting for permission, he followed Miss Pemberton into Captain Maynard's room. Clara was at her father's bedside, holding his hand.
She had found him, when she returned from the drawing-room after his interview with the vicar, speechless. He had endeavoured to say something to her, but his tongue refused its office; his mind was, however, it was evident, unimpaired. He looked up with a pained expression, and tried to show that he wished to write; but when a slate was brought him, his fingers were unable to hold the pencil Clara had immediately sent off for the doctor, and was now endeavouring, by chafing her father's hands, to restore their power.
On seeing the vicar in the doorway a peculiar expression pa.s.sed over Captain Maynard's countenance, and he made another desperate effort to utter a few words in his daughter's ear, but in vain--no articulate sounds proceeded from his lips.
”I feel the deepest sympathy and compa.s.sion for you, my dear young lady,” said the vicar in a gentle tone. ”We will pray for the soul of the departing--join me, I beseech you--induce your niece to kneel with us,” he whispered to Miss Pemberton, who nodded, and placing a chair by the bedside, almost compelled Clara to kneel on it, while she continued the act of filial affection in which she had been engaged. The vicar then taking from his pocket a book, read a service, of which poor Clara, agitated as she was, did not comprehend a word. Captain Maynard all the time was looking into her fair face with the same pained expression in his eyes which they had a.s.sumed on the entrance of the vicar. Doctor Brown, a worthy and excellent man, arrived just as the vicar had concluded; and exercising his authority, requested him and Miss Pemberton to leave the room, observing that perfect quiet was necessary for his patient.
”You may stay,” he whispered to Miss Maynard, as he felt the captain's pulse. ”The captain has had another attack--very slight, I a.s.sure you-- he'll rally from it, I hope, but we must allow nothing to agitate him.
There, there, he understands what we say. Don't be cast down, Captain; G.o.d will take care of her, and she has many true friends. It is about you, my dear, he is thinking--I know it by the way his eyes turn towards you.”
Clara could no longer restrain her tears, though she tried to conceal them from her father. The doctor's predictions were in part verified: Captain Maynard again rallied sufficiently to make signs for everything he wanted, and showed that his intellect was perfectly clear. With the doctor's permission he received several visits from General Caulfield, though no one else was allowed to see him. Mr Lerew called frequently.
On each occasion he had an interview with Miss Pemberton, and twice he saw Clara, when she was not in attendance on her father. He did his best, as he well knew how, to ingratiate himself with both ladies. He was making way with Miss Pemberton, and hoped that he was gradually winning over Clara. He took good care in her presence to say nothing harsh of General Caulfield, though what he did say was calculated to undermine him in her opinion, but he so cautiously expressed himself that she had no suspicion of the object of his remarks. He managed also never to call when the general was likely to be at the house, as he especially wished to avoid meeting him in the presence of Clara or her aunt. The vicar on three occasions ventured to speak much more openly to Miss Pemberton than he did to Clara.
”What a blessed thing it is, my dear lady, that our Holy Church possesses divinely appointed priests who can unerringly guide and direct their flock; who can rightly administer all the sacraments and interpret the Scriptures! and how sad it is that any should obstinately refuse to take full advantage of all these spiritual blessings!” he remarked.
”You and your sweet niece will, I trust, not be among those who thus risk the loss of their souls.”
”I hope not,” answered Miss Pemberton, becoming somewhat alarmed. ”I am sure that I wish to do everything which religion requires.”
”There is one great omission of which you have been guilty,” continued Mr Lerew. ”I wish to speak with all love and gentleness. You have never yet come to confession.”
”Is that necessary?” asked Miss Pemberton, feeling more than ever uneasy, ”I did not know that it was required by the Church of England.”
”You have read your Prayer-Book to little purpose, if you think so,”
said Mr Lerew, with more sternness than he had hitherto shown. ”Only think of the unspeakable comfort obtained through priestly absolution, which will be thus afforded you. You will then know that your sins are put away. You will feel so holy, and clean, and pure. Let me, with all loving earnestness, urge you and your sweet niece to come without delay to that holy ordinance, too long ignored and neglected in our Church; and let me a.s.sure you that I believe every true daughter of that Church, were she aware of the blessed advantages to be gained, would avail herself of the opportunities now being offered throughout the kingdom.”
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