dox tone of his sermon. There is no point in his
going to all that pains, merely to incur that risk.
Nobody wants him to preach, and he has reached
an age where personal vanity no longer tempts him
to do so. What is wanted of him is that he should
be the paternal, ceremonial, authoritative head and
centre of his flock, adviser, monitor, overseer, elder
brother, friend, patron, seigneur, -- whatever you
like, -- everything except a bore. They draw the
line at that. You see how diametrically opposed
this Catholic point of view is to the Protestant."

"The difference does seem extremely curious to
me," said Theron. "Now, those people in the
hall --"

"Go on," put in the doctor, as the other
faltered hesitatingly. "I know what you were
going to say. It struck you as odd that he
should let them wait on the bench there, while
he came up here to smoke."

Theron smiled faintly. "I was thinking that
my -- my parishioners wouldn't have taken it so
quietly. But of course -- it is all so different!"

"As chalk from cheese!" said Dr. Ledsmar,
lighting a fresh cigar. "I daresay every one you
saw there had come either to take the pledge, or
see to it that one of the others took it. That is
the chief industry in the hall, so far as I have ob-
served. Now discipline is an important element
in the machinery here. Coming to take the
pledge implies that you have been drunk and are

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