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d that perhaps the Kingdom of God is nearer than we suppose； that it needs but the faith and courage of a few； and it may be that we may even live to see the dawning of his kingdom； evenwho knows？the sunrise。 I am so full of faith and hope that I fear to be hopeful with you。 But whether it is near or far〃
〃We work for it；〃 said Eleanor。
Eleanor thought； eyes downcast for a little while； and then looked up。
〃It is so wonderful to talk to you like this； Daddy。 In the old days； I didn't dreamBefore I went to Newnham。 I misjudged you。 I thought Never mind what I thought。 It was silly。 But now I am so proud of you。 And so happy to be back with you； Daddy； and find that your religion is after all just the same religion that I have been wanting。〃
CHAPTER THE NINTH … THE THIRD VISION
（1）
ONE afternoon in October； four months and more after that previous conversation； the card of Mr。 Edward Scrope was brought up to Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey。 The name awakened no memories。 The doctor descended to discover a man so obviously in unaccustomed plain clothes that he had a momentary disagreeable idea that he was facing a detective。 Then he saw that this secular disguise draped the familiar form of his old friend； the former Bishop of Princhester。 Scrope was pale and a little untidy； he had already acquired something of the peculiar； slightly faded quality one finds in a don who has gone to Hampstead and fallen amongst advanced thinkers and got mixed up with the Fabian Society。 His anxious eyes and faintly propitiatory manner suggested an impending appeal。
Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey had the savoir…faire of a successful consultant； he prided himself on being all things to all men； but just for an instant he was at a loss what sort of thing he had to be here。 Then he adopted the genial； kindly； but by no means lavishly generous tone advisable in the case of a man who has suffered considerable social deterioration without being very seriously to blame。
Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey was a little round…faced man with defective eyesight and an unsuitable nose for the glasses he wore； and he flauntedGod knows whyenormous side…whiskers。
〃Well；〃 he said； balancing the glasses skilfully by throwing back his head； 〃and how are you？ And what can I do for you？ There's no external evidence of trouble。 You're looking lean and a little pale； but thoroughly fit。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the late bishop； 〃I'm fairly fit〃
〃Only？〃 said the doctor； smiling his teeth； with something of the manner of an old bathing woman who tells a child to jump。
〃Well； I'm run down andworried。〃
〃We'd better sit down；〃 said the great doctor professionally； and looked hard at him。 Then he pulled at the arm of a chair。
The ex…bishop sat down； and the doctor placed himself between his patient and the light。
〃This business of resigning my bishopric and so forth has involved very considerable strains；〃 Scrope began。 〃That I think is the essence of the trouble。 One cuts so many associations。。。。 I did not realize how much feeling there would be。。。。 Difficulties too of readjusting one's position。〃
〃Zactly。 Zactly。 Zactly；〃 said the doctor； snapping his face and making his glasses vibrate。 〃Run down。 Want a tonic or a change？〃
〃Yes。 In factI want a particular tonic。〃
Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey made his eyes and mouth round and interrogative。
〃While you were away last spring〃
〃Had to go；〃 said the doctor； 〃unavoidable。 Gas gangrene。 Certain enquiries。 These young investigators all very well in their way。 But we older reputationsExperience。 Maturity of judgment。 Can't do without us。 Yes？〃
〃Well； I came here last spring and saw； an assistant I suppose he was； or a supply；do you call them supplies in your profession？named； I thinkLet me seeD？〃
〃Dale！〃
The doctor as he uttered this word set his face to the unaccustomed exercise of expressing malignity。 His round blue eyes sought to blaze； small cherubic muscles exerted themselves to pucker his brows。 His colour became a violent pink。 〃Lunatic！〃 he said。 〃Dangerous Lunatic！ He didn't do anythinganything bad in your case； did he？〃
He was evidently highly charged with grievance in this matter。 〃That man was sent to me from Cambridge with the highest testimonials。 The very highest。 I had to go at twenty…four hours' notice。 Enquirygas gangrene。 There was nothing for it but to leave things in his hands。〃
Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey disavowed responsibility with an open； stumpy…fingered hand。
〃He did me no particular harm；〃 said Scrope。
〃You are the first he spared；〃 said Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey。
〃Did he？ Was he unskilful？〃
〃Unskilful is hardly the word。〃
〃Were his methods peculiar？〃
The little doctor sprang to his feet and began to pace about the room。 〃Peculiar！〃 he said。 〃It was abominable that they should send him to me。 Abominable！〃
He turned； with all the round knobs that constituted his face； aglow。 His side…whiskers waved apart like wings about to flap。 He protruded his face towards his seated patient。 〃I am glad that he has been killed；〃 he said。 〃Glad！ There！〃
His glasses fell offshocked beyond measure。 He did not heed them。 They swnng about in front of him as if they sought to escape while he poured out his feelings。
〃Fool！〃 he spluttered with demonstrative gestures。 〃Dangerous fool！ His one ideato upset everybody。 Drugs； Sir！ The most terrible drugs！ I come back。 Find ladies。 High social position。 Morphine…maniacs。 Others。 Reckless use of the most dangerous expedients。。。。 Cocaine not in it。 Stimulantsviolent stimulants。 In the highest quarters。 Terrible。 Exalted persons。 Royalty！ Anxious to be given war work and become anonymous。。。。 Horrible！ He's been a terrible influence。 One ideato disturb soul and body。 Minds unhinged。 Personal relations deranged。 Shattered the practice of years。 The harm he has done！ The harm！〃
He looked as though he was trying to burstas a final expression of wrath。 He failed。 His hands felt trembling to recover his pince…nez。 Then from his tail pocket he produced a large silk handkerchief and wiped the glasses。 Replaced them。 Wriggled his head in his collar； running his fingers round his neck。 Patted his tie。
〃Excuse this outbreak！〃 he said。 〃But Dr。 Dale has inflicted injuries 〃
Scrope got up； walked slowly to the window； clasping his hands behind his back； and turned。 His manner still retained much of his episcopal dignity。 〃I am sorry。 But still you can no doubt tell from your books what it was he gave me。 It was a tonic that had a very great effect on me。 And I need it badly now。〃
Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey was quietly malignant。 〃He kept no diary at all；〃 he said。 〃No diary at all。〃
〃But
〃If he did；〃 said Dr。 Brighton…Pomfrey； holding up a flat hand and wagging it from side to side； 〃I wouldn't follow his treatment。〃 He intensified with the hand going faster。 〃I wouldn't follow his treatment。 Not under any circumstances。〃
〃Naturally；〃 said Scrope； 〃if the results are what you say。 But in my case it wasn't a treatment。 I was sleepless； confused in my mind； wretched and demoralized； I came here； and he just produced the stuffIt clears the head； it clears the mind。 One seems to get away from the cloud of things； to get through to essentials