TREBELL. But teaching--true teaching--is learning, and the wish to know is going to prevail against any creed ... so I think. I wish you cared as little for the form in which a truth is told as I do. On the whole, you see, I think I shall manage to plant your theology in such soil this spring that the garden will be fruitful. On the whole I'm a believer in Churches of all sorts and their usefulness to the State. Your present use is out-worn. Have I found you in this the beginnings of a new one? CANTELUPE. The Church says: Thank you, it is a very old one. TREBELL. [_Winding up the interview._] To be sure, for practical politics our talk can be whittled down to your accepting the secular solution for Primary Schools, if you're given these colleges under such statutes as you and I shall agree upon. CANTELUPE. And the country will accept. TREBELL. The country will accept any measure if there's enough money in it to bribe all parties fairly. CANTELUPE. You expect very little of the constancy of my Church to her Faith, Mr. Trebell. TREBELL. I have only one belief myself. That is in human progress--yes, progress--over many obstacles and by many means. I have no ideals. I believe it is statesmanlike to use all the energy you find ... turning it into the nearest channel that points forward. CANTELUPE. Forward to what? TREBELL. I don't know ... and my caring doesn't matter. We do know ... and if we deny it it's only to be encouraged by contradiction ... that the movement is forward and with some gathering purpose. I'm friends with any fellow traveller. CANTELUPE _has been considering him very curiously. Now he gets up to go._ CANTELUPE. I should like to continue our talk when I've studied your draft of the statutes. Of course the political position is favourable to a far more comprehensive bill than we had ever looked for ... and you've the advantage now of having held yourself very free from party ties. In fact not only will you give us the bill we shall most care to accept, but I don't know what other man would give us a bill we and the other side could accept at all. TREBELL. I can let you have more Appropriation figures by Friday. The details of the Fabrics scheme will take a little longer. CANTELUPE. In a way there's no such hurry. We're not in office yet. TREBELL. When I'm building with figures I like to give the foundations time to settle. Otherwise they are the inexactest things. CANTELUPE. [_Smiling to him for the first time._] We shall have you finding Faith the only solvent of all problems some day. TREBELL. I hope my mind is not afraid ... even of the Christian religion. CANTELUPE. I am sure that the needs of the human soul ... be it dressed up in whatever knowledge ... do not alter from age to age.... _He opens the door to find_ WEDGECROFT _standing outside, watch in hand._ TREBELL. Hullo ... waiting? WEDGECROFT. I was giving you two minutes by my watch. How are you, Cantelupe?