War in Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page A

book is like a child. One has a ridiculous liking for one’s own child—quite ridiculous. And that’s all right. But seriously to think it’s better than other children, to push it, to ‘back’ its being better, as you said—that seems to me so silly as to be almost wicked.” He shook his head sadly at the manuscript.
    â€œOn the general principle I don’t agree with you,” Mornington said. “If your ideas are better than others’ you ought to push them. I’ve no patience with our modern democratic modesty. How do you know the publisher you send it to is a better judge than you are? And, if he rejects it, what do you do?”
    â€œIf I send it to all the publishers,” the Archdeacon answered, “and they all reject it, I think I should believe them. Securus iudicat , you know.”
    â€œBut it doesn’t,” Mornington said. “Not by any manner of means. The orbis terrarum has to be taught its business by the more intelligent people. It has never yet received a new idea into its chaotic mind unless imposed by force, and generally by the sword.”
    He picked up the MS. and turned over the pages. “‘The Protocol and the Pact,’” he read aloud, “‘as Stages in Man’s Consciousness.’ ‘Qualities and Nationalities.’ ‘Modes of Knowledge in Christ and Their Correspondences in Mankind.’ ‘Is the League of Nations Representative?’”
    â€œI gather,” he said, looking up, “that this is at once specialist and popular. I don’t for a moment suppose we shall take it, but I should like to have a look at it. May I carry it off now?”
    â€œI think I’d like to keep it over the week-end,” the Archdeacon answered. “There’s a point or two I want to think over and a little Greek I want to check. Perhaps I might bring it down to you on Monday or Tuesday?”
    â€œDo,” Mornington said. “Of course, I shan’t decide. It’ll go to one of our political readers, who won’t, I should think from the chapter-headings, even begin to understand it. But bring it along by all means. Persimmons’ list is the most muddled-up thing in London. Foxy Flossie’s Flirtations and Notes on Black Magic Considered Philosophically . But that, of course, is his father, so there’s some excuse.”
    â€œI thought you told me the elder Mr. Persimmons had retired,” the Vicar said.
    â€œHe is the Evening Star,” Mornington answered. “He cuts the glory from the grey, as it were. But he pops in a good deal so as to do it. He hovers on the horizon perpetually, and about once a fortnight lightens from the east to the west, or at least to Persimmons’ private office. A nice enough creature—with a perverse inclination towards the occult.”
    â€œI’m afraid,” the Vicar said gloomily, “this interest in what they call the occult is growing. It’s a result of the lack of true religion in these days and a wrong curiosity.”
    â€œOh, wrong, do you think?” Mornington asked. “Would you say any kind of curiosity was wrong? What about Job?”
    â€œJob?” the Archdeacon asked.
    â€œWell, sir, I always understood that where Job scored over the three friends was in feeling a natural curiosity why all those unfortunate things happened to him. They simply put up with it, but he, so to speak, asked God what He thought He was doing.”
    The Vicar shook his head. “He was told he couldn’t understand.”
    â€œHe was taunted with not being able to understand—which isn’t quite the same thing,” Mornington answered. “As a mere argument there’s something lacking perhaps, in saying to a man who’s lost his money and his house and his family and is sitting on the dustbin, all over boils, ‘Look at the hippopotamus.’”
    â€œJob seemed to be