"And government is but a great mutual insurance society against human selfishness," added Mr. Seaton.
"I quite agree with that," said Mrs. Ford, "the suppression of self is the end and aim of civilization as well as of Christianity."
"Just so, my dear madam, just so. Nevertheless I should not say that Conservatives do not think out matters for themselves," objected the rector, "for they do."
"Oh! don't say that," cried Isabel, "do not, at one fell swoop, take away the one virtue of the Conservative party."
The rector smiled. "Loyal old Tory as I am, I should not wish to recommend my party to alien eyes by assuming virtues when it has them not, my dear young lady."
"But," persisted Edgar, "I never can understand why what is wrong for an individual can be right for a party or a State."
"That is beside the mark," interpolated Mr. Ford.
Edgar looked puzzled. Things were always so clear to his father, and they were hardly ever clear to him. He groped after the truth, but he often failed to grasp it.
"Obedience is right in all men," said Mr. Seaton, "whether they be taken as individuals or as communities. To submit to authority is one of man's highest and most important duties."
"Quite so, quite so," agreed the rector; "yet now-a-days people are in sad danger of forgetting this."