ceaSundaythemoreobviouspartsofHolyScripture,makingintwentyminutesorhalfanhour,forthebenefitofthevulgar,anumberoftritereflectionsanditmustbeconfessedthathehadgreatfacilityforexplainingatdecorouslengthtextswhichwereplaintothemeanestintelligence.
Buthavingafairacquaintancewiththethoughtofothers,Mr.Jacksonflatteredhimselfthathewasathinkerandonsuitableoccasionsattackedfromhisvillagepulpitthescarletweedofheresy,expoundingtoanintelligentcongregationofyokelsandsmallboysthemanifolddifficultiesoftheAthanasianCreed.Hewasathisbestinpouringvialsofcontemptuponthefalsecreedofatheists,Romanists,Dissenters,andmenofscience.ThetheoryofEvolutionexcitedhisbitterestscorn,andhewouldsetup,likearowofnine-pins,thehypothesesofthegreatestphilosophersofthecentury,triumphantlytoknockthemdownbytheforceofhisownfearlessintellect.Hiscongregationwereinattentive,andconvincedbeyondtheneedofargument,sotheyremainedpiousmembersoftheChurchofEngland.
Butthisparticularsermon,aftermatureconsideration,theVicarhadmadeuphismindtodevotetoamatterofmorepressinginterest.Herepeatedthetext.Mrs.Jackson,whoknewwhatwascoming,caughtthecurate'seye,andlookedsignificantlyatJames.Thehomily,infact,wasdirectedagainsthimhiswerethepride,thearrogancy,andtheevilway.Hewasblissfullyunconsciousofthesefaults,andforaminuteortwotheapplicationmissedhimbuttheVicarofLittlePrimpton,intentuponwhathehonestlythoughthisduty,meantthatthereshouldbenomistake.Hecrossedhist'sanddottedhisi's,withthescrupulousaccuracyofthescandal-mongertellingamaliciousstoryaboutsomepersonwhomcharitablyhedoesnotname,yetwisheseveryonetoidentify.
ColonelParsonsstartedwhensuddenlythedriftofthesermondawneduponhim,andthenbowedhisheadwithshame.Hiswifelookedstraightinfrontofher,twoflamingspotsuponherpalecheeks.Mary,inthenextpew,darednotmove,hardlydaredbreatheherheartsankwithdismay,andshe