“If God is really just like him, I don’t see how any man could help loving him. But, do you know? I am terrified sometimes at the thought of seeing MY father. He was such a severe man! I am afraid he will scorn me.” “Never--if he has got into heavenly ways. And you have your mother there too, have you not?” “Oh! yes; I didn’t think of that. I don’t remember much of her.” “Anyhow, you have God there, and you must rest in him. He will not forget you, for that would be ceasing to be God. If God were to forget for one moment, the universe would grow black--vanish--rush out again from the realm of law and order into chaos and night.” “But I have been wicked.” “The more need you have, if possible, of your Father in heaven.” Here Mrs. Ramshorn beckoned the attendance of the curate where she sat a few yards off on the other side of Leopold. She was a little ashamed of having condescended to lose her temper, and when the curate went up to her, said, with an attempt at gaiety: “Is your odd little friend, as you call him, all--?” And she tapped her lace-cap carefully with her finger. “Rather more so than most people,” answered Wingfold. “He is a very remarkable man.” “He speaks as if he had seen better days--though where he can have gathered such detestable revolutionary notions, I can’t think.” “He is a man of education, as you see,” said the curate. “You don’t mean he has been to Oxford or Cambridge?” “No. His education has been of a much higher sort than is generally found there. He knows ten times as much as most university men.” “Ah! yes; but that goes for nothing: he hasn’t the standing. And if he had been to Oxford, he never could have imbibed such notions. Besides--his manners! To speak of the clergy as he did in the hearing of one whose whole history is bound up with the church!” She meant herself, not Wingfold. “But of course,” she went on, “there must be something VERY wrong with him to know so much as you say, and occupy such a menial position! Nothing but a gate-keeper, and talk like that about bishops and what not! People that are crooked in body are always crooked in mind too. I dare say now he has quite a coterie of friends and followers amongst the lower orders in Glaston. He’s just the sort of man to lead the working classes astray. No doubt he is a very interesting study for a young man like you, but you must take care; you may be misunderstood. A young clergyman CAN’T be too cautious--if he has any hope of rising in his profession.--A gate-keeper, indeed!” “Wasn’t it something like that David wanted to be?” said the curate. “Mr. Wingfold, I never allow any such foolish jests in my hearing. It was a DOOR-keeper the Psalmist said--and to the house of God, not a nobleman’s park.” “A verger, I suppose,” thought Wingfold.--“Seriously, Mrs. Ramshorn, that poor little atom of a creature is the wisest man I know,” he said. “Likely enough, in YOUR judgment, Mr. Wingfold,” said the dean’s widow, and drew herself up.