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The church is something more than either its creeds； its clergy； or its laymen。 Look at your cathedral rising out of and dominating Princhester。 It stands not simply for Athanasius； it stands but incidentally for Athanasius； it stands for all religion。 Within that fabriclet me be as frank here as in our private conversationdoctrine has altered again and again。 To…day two distinct religions worship there side by side； one that fades and one that grows brighter。 There is the old quasi…materialistic belief of the barbarians； the belief in such things； for example； as that Christ the physical Son of God descended into hell and stayed there； seeing the sights I suppose like any tourist and being treated with diplomatic civilities for three terrestrial days； and on the other hand there is the truly spiritual belief that you and I share； which is absolutely intolerant of such grotesque ideas。 My argument to you is that the new faith； the clearer vision； gains ground； that the only thing that can prevent or delay the church from being altogether possessed by what you call and I admit is； the true God； is that such men as yourself； as the light breaks upon you； should be hasty and leave the church。 You see my point of view； do you not？ It is not one that has been assumed for our discussion； it is one I came to long years ago； that I was already feeling my way to in my St。 Matthew's Lenton sermons。
〃A word for your private ear。 I am working。 I cannot tell you fully because I am not working alone。 But there are movements afoot in which I hope very shortly to be able to ask you to share。 That much at least I may say at this stage。 Obscure but very powerful influences are at work for the liberalizing of the church； for release from many narrow limitations； for the establishment of a modus vivendi with the nonconformist and dissentient bodies in Britain and America； and with the churches of the East。 But of that no more now。
〃And in conclusion； my dear Scrope； let me insist again upon the eternal persistence of the essential Religious Fact：
（Greek Letters Here）
（Rev。 i。 18。 〃Fear not。 I am the First and Last thing； the Living thing。〃）
And these promises which； even if we are not to take them as promises in the exact sense in which； let us say； the payment of five sovereigns is promised by a five…pound note； are yet assertions of practically inevitable veracity：
（Greek Letters Here）
（Phil。 i。 6。 〃He who began。。。 will perfect。〃 Eph。 v。 14。 〃He will illuminate。〃）
The old man had written his Greek tags in shakily resolute capitals。 It was his custom always to quote the Greek Testament in his letters； never the English version。 It is a practice not uncommon with the more scholarly of our bishops。 It is as if some eminent scientific man were to insist upon writing H20 instead of 〃water；〃 and 〃sodium chloride〃 instead of 〃table salt〃 in his private correspondence。 Or upon hanging up a stuffed crocodile in his hall to give the place tone。 The Bishop of Princhester construed these brief dicta without serious exertion； he found them very congenial texts； but there were insuperable difficulties in the problem why Likeman should suppose they had the slightest weight upon his side of their discussion。 The more he thought the less they seemed to be on Likeman's side； until at last they began to take on a complexion entirely opposed to the old man's insidious arguments； until indeed they began to bear the extraordinary interpretation of a special message； unwittingly delivered。
（8）
The bishop was still thinking over this communication when he was interrupted by Lady Ella。 She came with a letter in her hand to ask him whether she might send five…and…twenty pounds to a poor cousin of his； a teacher in a girls' school； who had been incapacitated from work by a dislocation of the cartilage of her knee。 If she could go to that unorthodox but successful practitioner； Mr。 Barker； the bone…setter； she was convinced she could be restored to efficiency。 But she had no ready money。 The bishop agreed without hesitation。 His only doubt was the certainty of the cure； but upon that point Lady Ella was convinced； there had been a great experience in the Walshingham family。
〃It is pleasant to be able to do things like this；〃 said Lady Ella； standing over him when this matter was settled。
〃Yes；〃 the bishop agreed； 〃it is pleasant to be in a position to do things like this。。。。〃
CHAPTER THE SEVENTH … THE SECOND VISION
（1）
A MONTH later found the bishop's original state of perplexity and insomnia returned and intensified。 He had done none of all the things that had seemed so manifestly needing to be done after his vision in the Athenaeum。 All the relief and benefit of his experience in London had vanished out of his life。 He was afraid of Dr。 Dale's drug； he knew certainly that it would precipitate matters； and all his instincts in the state of moral enfeeblement to which he had relapsed； were to temporize。
Although he had said nothing further about his changed beliefs to Lady Ella； yet he perceived clearly that a shadow had fallen between them。 She had a wife's extreme sensitiveness to fine shades of expression and bearing； and manifestly she knew that something was different。 Meanwhile Lady Sunderbund had become a frequent worshipper in the cathedral； she was a figure as conspicuous in sombre Princhester as a bird of paradise would have been； common people stood outside her very very rich blue door on the chance of seeing her； she never missed an opportunity of hearing the bishop preach or speak； she wrote him several long and thoughtful letters with which he did not bother Lady Ella； she communicated persistently； and manifestly intended to become a very active worker in diocesan affairs。
It was inevitable that she and the bishop should meet and talk occasionally in the cathedral precincts； and it was inevitable that he should contrast the flexibility of her rapid and very responsive mind with a certain defensiveness； a stoniness； in the intellectual bearing of Lady Ella。
If it had been Lady Sunderbund he had had to explain to； instead of Lady Ella； he could have explained a dozen times a day。
And since his mind was rehearsing explanations it was not unnatural they should overflow into this eagerly receptive channel； and that the less he told Lady Ella the fuller became his spiritual confidences to Lady Sunderbund。
She was clever in realizing that they were confidences and treating them as such； more particularly when it chanced that she and Lady Ella and the bishop found themselves in the same conversation。
She made great friends with Miriam； and initiated her by a whole collection of pretty costume plates into the mysteries of the 〃Ussian Ballet〃 and the works of Mousso'gski and 〃Imsky Ko'zakof。〃
The bishop liked a certain religiosity in the texture of Moussorgski's music； but failed to see the 〃significance 〃of many of the costumes。
（2）
It was on a Sunday nightthe fourth Sunday after Easter that the supreme crisis of the bishop's life began。 He had had a feeling all day of extreme dulness and stupidity； he felt his ministrations unreal； his ceremonies absurd