‘May be so, sir. I have found one already, by God’s grace, and I’m much mistaken if I don’t begin to see my way towards another.’
‘And what is that?’
‘The kingdom of God on earth, sir, as well as in heaven. Come it must, sir, and come it will some day.’
Lancelot shook his head.
Tregarva lifted up his eyes and said,—
‘Are we not taught to pray for the coming of His kingdom, sir? And do you fancy that He who gave the lesson would have set all mankind to pray for what He never meant should come to pass?’
Lancelot was silent. The words gained a new and blessed meaning in his eyes.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘the time, at least, of their fulfilment is far enough off. Union-workhouses and child-murder don’t look much like it. Talking of that, Tregarva, what is to become of your promise to take me to a village wake, and show me what the poor are like?’
‘I can keep it this night, sir. There is a revel at Bone-sake, about five miles up the river. Will you go with a discharged gamekeeper?’
‘I will go with Paul Tregarva, whom I honour and esteem as one of God’s own noblemen; who has taught me what a man can be, and what I am not,’—and Lancelot grasped the keeper’s hand warmly. Tregarva brushed his hand across his eyes, and answered,—