"In the course of history," remarked the Colonel, "many Churchmen have thought that. But the end of it's always been the same."
"What's that?" asked the engineer.
"That the Church has converted them."
CHAPTER VIII
THE CHERUB
The advent of Bobby Chislehurst to Old Town made a considerable difference to Bessie Trupp. She was not at all in love with him and he only pleasantly so with her; but as she told her friend the Colonel,
"He's the first curate we've ever had in Old Town you can be like that with."
"Like that is good," said the Colonel. "Give me my tables. Meet it is I write it down.—It says nothing and expresses everything."
Now if the clergy in Old Town with the exception of Bess's pet antipathy, the Reverend Spink, were honest men worthy of respect, as everybody admitted, they were also old-fashioned; and Bobby Chislehurst was a new and disturbing element in their midst. Shy and unassuming though he was, the views of the Cherub, as the Colonel called his cousin, when they became known, created something of a mild sensation in the citadel which had been held for Conservatism against all comers by the Archdeacon and his lady for nearly forty years.
Even Mr. Pigott was shocked.