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If I had known Hilda's surname I should have told it to him at once. "It's just possible," I said, "that Selby-Harrison's father might know. He lives down in these parts somewhere. Perhaps you've met him." "There's only one Selby-Harrison here. He's on your committee, a warm supporter of yours." "That's the man.
"The Archdeacon's proposal " I said. "By the way, you couldn't possibly have been mistaken about it, could you? He really did?" Lalage blushed hotly. "He did," she said, "really." "That just shows," I said, "what a tremendous impression you made on him with Selby-Harrison's text." "It wasn't the text at all. He said it had been the dearest wish of his heart for years.
"I need scarcely tell you, how gladly I should welcome the assistance offered by the A.S.P.L., if I had nothing but my own feelings to consider. Speeches from you and Hilda would brighten up what threatens to be a dull affair. Selby-Harrison's advice would be invaluable. But I cannot, in fairness to others, accept the offer unconditionally. Selby-Harrison's father ought to be consulted.
It seemed to me scarcely possible that letters formed as these were could convey sentiments of any but a fragrant kind. I turned out to be mistaken. This letter was more pitiless even than Selby-Harrison's stark mathematical statements. "Owing to the incessant worry and annoyance of the last three days I am prostrate with a bad attack of my old enemy and am obliged to dictate this letter."
"Lalage," I said, "and Hilda, I am so thoroughly convinced of your energy and enterprise, I feel so sure of Selby-Harrison's financial ability and I am so deeply in sympathy with the objects of your, may I say our, society, that if I possessed £300,000 you should have it to-morrow; but, owing to, recent legislation affecting Irish land, the ever-increasing burden of income tax and the death duties "
You know the sort of way a sheep looks?" "Woolly?" "Yes, frightfully, and worse. If I'd had a single grain of sense I should have bolted at once. Anybody might have known what was coming." "I shouldn't. In fact, even now that I know something came, I can't guess what it was." "Instead of bolting I brought out that text of Selby-Harrison's. He took it like a lamb."
I recollected the telegram I had received just before leaving Lisbon. "I wish," I said, "that I felt sure you had respected my scruples. What about Selby-Harrison's father? Has he been consulted?" "Selby-Harrison isn't coming, only me and Hilda." "Why?" "Well, for one thing he's in the Divinity School now." "That needn't stop him," I said.
Hilda brought Selby-Harrison's form of guarantee with her. It was written on a sheet of blue foolscap paper and ornamented with a penny stamp, necessary, so a footnote informed me, because the sum of money involved was more than two pounds.
We can't get over that. If that text of First Timothy is really binding I don't myself know whether it is or not, but I'm inclined to take Selby-Harrison's word for it that it is. He's in the Divinity School and has been making a special study of the subject.
It was nearly all out of the Bible and the ancient Fathers of the Church and Councils and things. It couldn't have been simony. You have his letter, haven't you, Hilda? Read it out." Hilda opened the small bag she always carries and took out the letter. It looked to me a very long one. "I don't know," I said, "that Selby-Harrison's letter really matters unless you read it out to the Archdeacon."
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