"Then it isn't his change of religious opinions they would care about?" said Eleanor.
"Oh, I don't say that Eldon Parr won't try to throw him out if he questions the faith as delivered by the Saints."
"Phil, what a way of putting it!"
"Any indication of independence, any approach to truth would be regarded as dangerous," Phil continued. And of course Gordon Atterbury and others we could mention, who think they believe in the unchipped egg theory, will be outraged. But it's deeper than that. Eldon Parr will give orders that Hodder's to go."
"Give orders?"
"Certainly. That vestry, so far as Mr. Parr is concerned, is a mere dummy board of directors. He's made Langmaid, and Plimpton, and even Everett Constable, who's the son of an honourable gentleman, and ought to know better. And he can ruin them by snapping his fingers. He can even make the financial world too hot for Ferguson. I'll say this for Gordon Atterbury, that Mr. Parr can't control him, but he's got a majority without him, and Gordon won't vote for a heretic. Who are left, except father-in-law Waring and myself?"
"He can't control either of you!" said Eleanor, proudly.
"When it comes to that, Nell—we'll move into Canada and buy a farm."
"But can he hurt you, Phil—either of you?" she asked, after a moment.
"I'd like to see him try it," Phil Goodrich declared