“Then I say let them alone!” he exclaimed. “I’m sick and tired of this everlasting kow-towing to a class of people who are never satisfied with what’s being done for them.”
To this last explosion the rector paid no heed. He looked around over the persons assembled in the room. “I would like to hear,” he said, “from other gentlemen of the vestry. If most of you are opposed to the proposition, I will not press it at this time; but I will begin a campaign of education among the people of the parish, so that when it again comes before you, it will come backed by the force of public opinion. What is your thought in the matter, Mr. Cochran?”
“I quite agree with Mr. Hughes and Colonel Boston,” replied Mr. Cochran. “I think it would be extremely unwise to abolish our system of rentals.”
“And what is your opinion, Mr. Emberly?”
“I am heartily in favor of adopting the suggestion of the rector,” was Emberly’s answer.
Nobody was surprised at Emberly. He always sided with the rector. But his opinion carried no great weight. He contributed sparsely, from a lean purse, for the support of the Church. How could he be expected to have a leading voice in her councils?
Probably Mr. Hazzard, junior warden, and superintendent of the Sunday-school, would also have agreed with the rector if his opinion had been asked; but, before he could be interrogated, Westgate interrupted.
“It seems to me,” he said, “to be quite futile to discuss this question at this time. Our pews are rented until Easter Monday of next year, and it is now only September. We cannot abrogate the contracts already made. I suggest, therefore, that we postpone discussion of the matter until some future meeting. In the meantime, the parish as a whole will have opportunity to consider it, and we can take it up later if it should be deemed advisable to do so.”
“An excellent suggestion!” exclaimed Mr. Hughes.
“I am quite willing to yield to Mr. Westgate’s judgment,” said the rector.