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rs and oppressors； and the Justice of God； the Kingdom of God set high over the republics of mankind； has brought peace for ever to the world。 It is to this militant and imminent God； to this immortal Captain； this undying Law…giver； that you devote yourselves to…day。
〃For he is imminent now。 He comes。 I have seen in the east and in the west； the hearts and the minds and the wills of men turning to him as surely as when a needle is magnetized it turns towards the north。 Even now as I preach to you here； God stands over us all； ready to receive us。。。。〃
And as he said these words； the long nave of the cathedral； the shadows of its fretted roof； the brown choir with its golden screen； the rows of seated figures； became like some picture cast upon a flimsy and translucent curtain。 Once more it seemed to the bishop that he saw God plain。 Once more the glorious effulgence poured about him； and the beautiful and wonderful conquest of men's hearts and lives was manifest to him。
He lifted up his hands and cried to God； and with an emotion so profound； an earnestness so commanding； that very many of those who were present turned their faces to see the figure to which he looked and spoke。 And some of the children had a strange persuasion of a presence there； as of a divine figure militant； armed； and serene。。。。
〃Oh God our Leader and our Master and our Friend；〃 the bishop prayed； 〃forgive our imperfection and our little motives； take us and make us one with thy great purpose； use us and do not reject us； make us all here servants of thy kingdom； weave our lives into thy struggle to conquer and to bring peace and union to the world。 We are small and feeble creatures； we are feeble in speech； feebler still in action； nevertheless let but thy light shine upon us and there is not one of us who cannot be lit by thy fire； and who cannot lose himself in thy salvation。 Take us into thy purpose； O God。 Let thy kingdom come into our hearts and into this world。〃
His voice ceased； and he stood for a measurable time with his arms extended and his face upturned。。。。
The golden clouds that whirled and eddied so splendidly in his brain thinned out； his sense of God's immediacy faded and passed； and he was left aware of the cathedral pulpit in which he stood so strangely posed； and of the astonished congregation below him。 His arms sank to his side。 His eyes fell upon the book in front of him and he felt for and gripped the two upper corners of it and； regardless of the common order and practice； read out the Benediction； changing the words involuntarily as he read：
〃The Blessing of God who is the Father； the Son； the Spirit and the King of all Mankind； be upon you and remain with you for ever。 Amen。〃
Then he looked again； as if to look once more upon that radiant vision of God； but now he saw only the clear cool space of the cathedral vault and the coloured glass and tracery of the great rose window。 And then； as the first notes of the organ came pealing above the departing stir of the congregation； he turned about and descended slowly； like one who is still half dreaming； from the pulpit。
（13）
In the vestry he found Canon Bliss。 〃Help me to take off these garments；〃 the bishop said。 〃I shall never wear them again。〃
〃You are ill；〃 said the canon； scrutinizing his face。
〃Not ill。 But the word was taken out of my mouth。 I perceive now that I have been in a trance； a trance in which the truth is real。 It is a fearful thing to find oneself among realities。 It is a dreadful thing when God begins to haunt a priest。。。。 I can never minister in the church again。〃
Whippham thrust forward a chair for the bishop to sit down。 The bishop felt now extraordinarily fatigued。 He sat down heavily； and rested his wrists on the arms of the chair。 〃Already；〃 he resumed presently； 〃I begin to forget what it was I said。〃
〃You became excited；〃 said Bliss； 〃and spoke very loudly and clearly。〃
〃What did I say？〃
〃I don't know what you said； I have forgotten。 I never want to remember。 Things about the Second Advent。 Dreadful things。 You said God was close at hand。 Happily you spoke partly in Greek。 I doubt if any of those children understood。 And you had a kind of lapsean aphasia。 You mutilated the interrogation and you did not pronounce the benediction properly。 You changed words and you put in words。 One sat frozenwaiting for what would happen next。〃
〃We must postpone the Pringle confirmation；〃 said Whippham。 〃I wonder to whom I could telephone。〃
Lady Ella appeared； and came and knelt down by the bishop's chair。 〃I never ought to have let this happen；〃 she said； taking his wrists in her hands。 〃You are in a fever； dear。〃
〃It seemed entirely natural to say what I did；〃 the bishop declared。
Lady Ella looked up at Bliss。
〃A doctor has been sent for；〃 said the canon to Lady Ella。
〃I must speak to the doctor；〃 said Lady Ella as if her husband could not hear her。 〃There is something that will make things clearer to the doctor。 I must speak to the doctor for a moment before he sees him。〃
Came a gust of pretty sounds and a flash of bright colour that shamed the rich vestments at hand。 Over the shoulder of the rector and quite at the back； appeared Lady Sunderbund resolutely invading the vestry。 The rector intercepted her； stood broad with extended arms。
〃I must come in and speak to him。 If it is only fo' a moment。〃
The bishop looked up and saw Lady Ella's expression。 Lady Ella was sitting up very stiffly； listening but not looking round。
A vague horror and a passionate desire to prevent the entry of Lady Sunderbund at any cost； seized upon the bishop。 She would； he felt； be the last overwhelming complication。 He descended to a base subterfuge。 He lay back in his chair slowly as though he unfolded himself； he covered his eyes with his hand and then groaned aloud。
〃Leave me alone！〃 he cried in a voice of agony。 〃Leave me alone！ I can see no one。。。。 I canno more。〃
There was a momentous silence； and then the tumult of Lady Sunderbund receded。
CHAPTER THE EIGHTH … THE NEW WORLD
（1）
THAT night the bishop had a temperature of a hundred and a half。 The doctor pronounced him to be in a state of intense mental excitement； aggravated by some drug。 He was a doctor modern and clear…minded enough to admit that he could not identify the drug。 He overruled； every one overruled； the bishop's declaration that he had done with the church； that he could never mock God with his episcopal ministrations again； that he must proceed at once with his resignation。 〃Don't think of these things；〃 said the doctor。 〃Banish them from your mind until your temperature is down to ninety…eight。 Then after a rest you may go into them。〃
Lady Ella insisted upon his keeping his room。 It was with difficulty that he got her to admit Whippham； and Whippham was exasperatingly in order。 〃You need not trouble about anything now； my lord；〃 he said。 〃Everything will keep until you are ready to attend to it。 It's well we're through with Easter。 Bishop Buncombe of Eastern Blowdesia was coming here anyhow。 And there is Canon Bliss。 There's only two ordination candidates because of the war。 We'll get on swimmingly。〃
The bishop thought