“Thank goodness, I’m out of it. After all, it’s a good thing to be an ass; and the army, oh golly! I never expected anything so sensible as that from ’em.” With that he winked lugubriously in Gwen’s direction and was rather upset by catching Mr. Fellowes’ eye instead. “I am quite certain that whatever you and Mrs. Waring have done in this matter has been done most conscientiously,” said Mr. Fellowes discreetly. “I am glad you think me capable of teaching your children, what to my way of thinking is the head and front of all knowledge—the knowledge of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ—” Gwen looked at Mr. Fellowes with an astonished eager gaze. “This all sounds quite good,” she reflected, “but then, is it? Things are so very different from sounds,—every tutor before he comes, sounds lovely.” “But, Mr. Waring,” continued the rector mildly, “if you entrust this matter to me you must also entrust me with the choosing of the books bearing on the subject; for instance, I should decidedly reserve this book, _Lord Amberley_, also this, Renan’s _Life of Jesus_, for that future period when you intend to give your children the evidences against Christianity. These, to my mode of thinking, would certainly be valueless for our purpose.” “Indeed, Mr. Fellowes, you surprise me!” He went over and glanced in rather a hurt way at the books, “I consider that work of Lord Amberley’s a most unimpassioned, useful, and an eminently trustworthy history of religions. Lord Amberley seems quite of our way of thinking—my wife’s and mine—for though he theorizes so little, confining himself chiefly to the recording of facts, yet in the whole tone of the work, one notices his predilection for that religion instituted by Christ over other faiths. I must say I should have considered _that_ book a valuable one in your cult; however, you are a specialist,” he remarked magnanimously, “we but dabblers in these matters, therefore we are bound to yield our judgment. “As for Renan’s _Life_, it appears to me to be a charming composition, simple, and in style delightful. I should have thought it would have appealed pleasantly to the childish comprehension; however, as you object, with, no doubt, full and sufficient ground for your objections, we will leave the matter entirely in your hands and in those of your dear wife,” he added with a stiff bow in her direction, “a most excellent helpmeet in this as in all other things.” “Oh, Mr. Waring, please don’t imagine that I meddle in all my husband’s business!” cried Mrs. Fellowes, half-amused and half-angry; it was too abominable to be made a sort of co, or under-curate to her husband, even by this pair of curiosities. “I should never dream of interfering in the religious instruction of anyone, either young or old; and if I had any mind to, I assure you my husband would soon strangle that tendency in me.”