‘I do not know what to say. I have never thought much about such matters. Is not what they call casuistry a science among Roman Catholics? If I were in a difficulty and could not tell right from wrong, I should turn Catholic, and come to you as my priest, Mrs Hopgood.’
‘Then you would do, not what you thought right yourself, but what I thought right. The worth of the right to you is that it is your right, and that you arrive at it in your own way. Besides, you might not have time to consult anybody. Were you never compelled to settle promptly a case of this kind?’
‘I remember once at school, when the mathematical master was out of the class-room, a boy named Carpenter ran up to the blackboard and wrote “Carrots” on it. That was the master’s nickname, for he was red-haired. Scarcely was the word finished, when Carpenter heard him coming along the passage. There was just time partially to rub out some of the big letters, but CAR remained, and Carpenter was standing at the board when “Carrots” came in. He was an excitable man, and he knew very well what the boys called him.
‘“What have you been writing on the board, sir?”
‘“Carpenter, sir.”
‘The master examined the board. The upper half of the second R was plainly perceptible, but it might possibly have been a P. He turned round, looked steadily at Carpenter for a moment, and then looked at us. Carpenter was no favourite, but not a soul spoke.
‘“Go to your place, sir.”
‘Carpenter went to his place, the letters were erased and the lesson was resumed. I was greatly perplexed; I had acquiesced in a cowardly falsehood. Carrots was a great friend of mine, and I could not bear to feel that he was humbugged, so when we were outside I went up to Carpenter and told him he was an infernal sneak, and we had a desperate fight, and I licked him, and blacked both his eyes. I did not know what else to do.’
The company laughed.
‘We cannot,’ said Madge, ‘all of us come to terms after this fashion with our consciences, but we have had enough of these discussions on morality. Let us go out.’