"We can't prevent dissent, Saint George." "We can't prevent it, because, in religion as in everything else, men like to manage themselves. This farmer or that tradesman becomes a dissenter because he can be somebody in the management of his chapel, and would be nobody in regard to the parish church." "That is very dreadful." "Not worse than our own people, who remain with us because it sounds the most respectable. Not one in fifty really believes that this or that form of worship is more likely to send him to heaven than any other." "I certainly claim to myself to be one of the few," said the Marquis. "No doubt; and so you ought, my lord, as every advantage has been given you. But, to come back to the Bullhampton chapel,--don't you think we could move it away from the parson's gate?" "They have built it now, Saint George." "They can't have finished it yet." "You wouldn't have me ask them to pull it down? Packer was here yesterday, and said that the framework of the roof was up." "What made them hurry it in that way? Spite against the Vicar, I suppose." "He is a most objectionable man, Saint George; most insolent, overbearing, and unlike a clergyman. They say that he is little better than an infidel himself." "We had better leave that to the bishop, my lord." "We must feel about it, connected as we are with the parish," said the Marquis. "But I don't think we shall do any good by going into a parochial quarrel." "It was the very best bit of land for the purpose in all Bullhampton," said the Marquis. "I made particular inquiry, and there can be no doubt of that. Though I particularly dislike that Mr. Fenwick, it was not done to injure him." "It does injure him damnably, my lord." "That's only an accident." "And I'm not at all sure that we shan't find that we have made a mistake." "How a mistake?" "That we have given away land that doesn't belong to us." "Who says it doesn't belong to us?" said the Marquis, angrily. A suggestion so hostile, so unjust, so cruel as this, almost overcame the feeling of veneration which he entertained for his son. "That is really nonsense, Saint George." "Have you looked at the title deeds?" "The title deeds are of course with Mr. Boothby. But Packer knows every foot of the ground,--even if I didn't know it myself." "I wouldn't give a straw for Packer's knowledge." "I haven't heard that they have even raised the question themselves." "I'm told that they will do so,--that they say it is common land. It's quite clear that it has never been either let or enclosed." "You might say the same of the bit of green that lies outside the park gate,--where the great oak stands; but I don't suppose that that is common." "I don't say that this is--but I do say that there may be difficulty of proof; and that to be driven to the proof in such a matter would be disagreeable." "What would you do, then?"