Bateman looked round at her, startled and frightened.
"You were going to speak of your improvements in your church," said Mary, wishing to divert his attention from her mother.
"Ah, true, Miss Reding, true," said Bateman, "thank you for reminding me; I have digressed to improvements in my own dress. I should have liked to have pulled down the galleries and lowered the high pews; that, however, I could not do. So I have lowered the pulpit some six feet. Now by doing so, first I give a pattern in my own person of the kind of condescension or lowliness to which I would persuade my people. But this is not all; for the consequence of lowering the pulpit is, that no one in the galleries can see or hear me preach; and this is a bonus on those who are below."
"It's a broad hint, certainly," said Charles.
"But it's a hint for those below also," continued Bateman; "for no one can see or hear me in the pews either, till the sides are lowered."
"One thing only is wanting besides," said Charles, smiling and looking amiable, lest he should be saying too much; "since you are full tall, you must kneel when you preach, Bateman, else you will undo your own alterations."
Bateman looked pleased. "I have anticipated you," he said; "I preach sitting. It is more comformable to antiquity and to reason to sit than to stand."
"With these precautions," said Charles, "I really think you might have ventured on your surplice in the pulpit every Sunday. Are your parishioners contented?"
"Oh, not at all, far from it," cried Bateman; "but they can do nothing. The alteration is so simple."
"Nothing besides?" asked Charles.