“You cannot expect them to judge of what you tell them.” “The Bible urges upon us to search and understand.” “I grant that for those whose business it is, like yourself.” “Do you think, then, that the Church consists of a few privileged to understand, and a great many who cannot understand, and therefore need not be taught?” “I said you had to teach them.” “But to teach is to make people understand.” “I don’t think so. If you come to that, how much can the wisest of us understand? You remember what Pope says,— ‘Superior beings, when of late they saw A mortal man unfold all Nature’s law, Admired such wisdom in an earthly shape, And show’d a Newton as we show an ape’?” “I do not know the passage. Pope is not my Bible. I should call such superior beings very inferior beings indeed.” “Do you call the angels inferior beings?” “Such angels, certainly.” “He means the good angels, of course.” “And I say the good angels could never behave like that, for contempt is one of the lowest spiritual conditions in which any being can place himself. Our Lord says, ‘Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for their angels do always behold the face of my Father, who is in heaven.’” “Now will you even say that you understand that passage?” “Practically, well enough; just as the poorest man of my congregation may understand it. I am not to despise one of the little ones. Pope represents the angels as despising a Newton even.” “And you despise Pope.” “I hope not. I say he was full of despising, and therefore, if for no other reason, a small man.” “Surely you do not jest at his bodily infirmities?” “I had forgotten them quite.” “In every other sense he was a great man.” “I cannot allow it. He was intellectually a great man, but morally a small man.” “Such refinements are not easily followed.” “I will undertake to make the poorest woman in my congregation understand that.” “Why don’t you try your friend Mrs Oldcastle, then? It might do her a little good,” said Miss Hester, now becoming, I thought, a little spiteful at hearing her favourite treated so unceremoniously. I found afterwards that there was some kindness in it, however. “I should have very little influence with Mrs Oldcastle if I were to make the attempt. But I am not called upon to address my flock individually upon every point of character.” “I thought she was an intimate friend of yours.” “Quite the contrary. We are scarcely friendly.” “I am very glad to hear it,” said Miss Jemima, who had been silent during the little controversy that her sister and I had been carrying on. “We have been quite misinformed. The fact is, we thought we might have seen more of you if it had not been for her. And as very few people of her own position in society care to visit her, we thought it a pity she should be your principal friend in the parish.” “Why do they not visit her more?”