"If this really spreads into a movement, as it may," he said, "ignorant public opinion will be with the protestors for a month or two. But that is all. The man in the street will say that every one has a right to hold whatever religious opinions he pleases, and to convert others to his views—if he can—by the ordinary methods of propagandism. But he will also say that no one has a right to air his opinions by disturbing the devotions of those who don't happen to agree with him. And what is more, no religious cause was ever advanced by these means. I have no doubt that these people will boast and brag that they are vindicating the cause of law in the Church of England. But if they knew anything of the history of that Protestantism they champion—which, of course, they don't, for they know nothing whatever—they would know that the law is the most impotent of all weapons to crush a religious movement."
James nodded. "It is a truism of history," he agreed.
"Exactly. To call in the aid of the law to counteract the spread of any religious doctrine or ceremonial is to adopt the precise means that sent the Oxford martyrs to the stake and lighted the Smithfield fires. From the days when the High Priests called in the law's aid to nip Christianity in the bud, the appeal to the law has never been anything but an appeal to the spirit of intolerance and persecution against the freedom of religious belief and worship."
Agatha rose from the table. "Come along, Lucy dear," she said; "'all's well that ends well,' and your brother's not going to have a bomb thrown at him just yet. You will be in the thick of the disturbance in a few days; meanwhile, make the most of the river and the sunshine! Jim, come and punt us to the Eyot."
She kissed her father and fluttered away singing happily a snatch of an old song, Green Grow the Rushes O!
The others followed her. The two elder men were left alone, and for a minute or two neither spoke.
Then Saltus said: "They are all young, they have made no contact with real life yet. God does not always call in early life. To some people, the cross that is set so high over the world is like a great star,—it is not seen until the surrounding sky is darkened and the sun grows dim."
"I am going into the chapel," Lord Huddersfield said, "to be alone for an hour. There must be many prayers going up to-day to God for the wrong these poor ignorant men have done."
"Pray that they may be forgiven. And then, my dear Lord," he continued, "suppose we have a talk over the situation that has been created—if any situation beyond the purely local one has been created." A fighting look came into his face. "We shall be wise to be prepared, to have our guns loaded."
"Yes, Father," Lord Huddersfield said rather grimly, "we are not without power and influence, I am happy to think."