And Now Good-bye Read Online Free PDF

adroit debater as Councillor
Higgs. He said, quietly: “I don’t really believe that parsons
ought to identify themselves entirely with any political party. It’s
quite true that I often find myself on your side. On the other hand, I
sometimes don’t, and what would you have me do then?”
    “Well, we’d try to convince you. This question of Sunday
games, now—”
    “My dear chap, I’m not going to go over all that again with
you. My position is exactly the same as it was last year—in such a
matter I regard myself as the delegate of my congregation, and as
they’re overwhelmingly against the idea, there’s nothing more to
be discussed.”
    “I always thought a shepherd led his flock, not was led by
it.”
    “Don’t you think a shepherd would be foolish if he led both
himself and his flock over a precipice?” Howat’s voice became
more animated. “Why don’t you try to understand my position? I
hope—I even try to believe—that I do some good in this town.
Amongst other things, I try to broaden people’s minds—I’m
keen, as I daresay you know, on literary societies, debating clubs, music,
the drama; anything that I think will get and keep people out of the
commonplace rut. If I step warily, I may succeed—indeed, I sometimes
feel that I am succeeding. But if I were to back you up in supporting Sunday
games, I should merely split my congregation, smash up all the good work
I’m interested in, and—quite likely—make my whole position
in Browdley an impossible one. Do you think that would really be the best
thing that could happen?”
    “Yes, since you ask me, I do. It’s the only course I’d
honour you for. As it is, I know for certain what I’d for a long time
suspected—that you’re secretly on our side, but haven’t the
courage to stand with us.” His voice rose excitedly, and after a pause
for breath he added quickly: “I’m sorry, Freemantle, I really
don’t mean to be insulting at all—I’m only being as frank
as I know how.”
    “Yes, I quite see that.” And at the back of Howat’s mind
was the thought: I’ve said too much, somehow or other; I oughtn’t
to have let myself be enticed into an argument with this fellow—Heaven
knows where it will lead to, or what tales he’ll spread about
afterwards…Higgs was one whom eloquence always stirs to greater eloquence.
He went on: “I wouldn’t mind so much if your people were all as
virtuous as they pretend to be. But they’re not. Look at the
Makepeaces, the Battersbys, that dreadful old Monks woman—are they really the moral cream of Browdley society? Oh, and Garland the
draper—mustn’t forget him . He’s the chap who shakes
hands at your chapel door after Sunday services—the ’right hand
of fellowship’, isn’t that what you call it? There’s not
much fellowship about him on week-days, I can tell you. We’re on to him
now about some cottages he owns in Silk Street; the rain comes in at all the
roofs, but he won’t do any repairs—we’re trying to make
him, but he’s got a cute solicitor. I suppose, though, since he’s
a pillar of your chapel, this kind of talk must sound rather
offensive?”
    Howat thought despairingly: I mustn’t argue, whatever happens; the
rain comes in at my roof too, by the way; Higgs and Garland are natural
enemies, and I’m not going to interfere between them…He said:
“It doesn’t strike me as particularly offensive, but that’s
not to say I’d consider it good taste to join in a discussion of
individual chapel members with outsiders.”
    “Have a look at those houses in Silk Street and see things for
yourself”
    “Well, I might do that.”
    “Good of you if you do. And I don’t mind a bit being called an
outsider. Perhaps you’ll feel one yourself some day, so far as the
chapel’s concerned. The fact is, this town’s sunk in narrow-
mindedness, and it really makes a fellow sick sometimes to find out what
he’s