grinning subserviently to ancient usages and
stale forms, because of a baggage that it is, woe to us! too true, we
cannot cut ourselves loose from? Lydiard might say we are compelling the
priests to fight, and that they are compact foemen, not always passive.
Battle, then!--The cry was valiant. Nevertheless, Jenny would certainly
insist upon the presence of a parson, in spite of her bridegroom's
'natural repugnance.' Dr. Shrapnel offered to argue it with her, being of
opinion that a British consul could satisfactorily perform the ceremony.
Beauchamp knew her too well. Moreover, though tongue-tied as to
love-making, he was in a hurry to be married. Jenny's eyes were lovely,
her smiles were soft; the fair promise of her was in bloom on her face
and figure. He could not wait; he must off to the parson.

Then came the question as to whether honesty and honour did not impose it
on them to deal openly with that gentle, and on such occasions
unobtrusive official, by means of a candid statement to him overnight, to
the effect that they were the avowed antagonists of his Church, which
would put him on his defence, and lead to an argument that would
accomplish his overthrow. You parsons, whose cause is good, marshal out
the poor of the land, that we may see the sort of army your stewardship
has gained for you. What! no army? only women and hoary men? And in the
rear rank, to support you as an institution, none but fanatics, cowards,
white-eyeballed dogmatists, timeservers, money-changers, mockers in their
sleeves? What is this?

But the prospect of so completely confounding the unfortunate parson
warned Beauchamp that he might have a shot in his locker: the parson
heavily trodden on will turn. 'I suppose we must be hypocrites,' he said
in dejection. Dr. Shrapnel was even more melancholy. He again offered to
try his persuasiveness upon Jenny. Beauchamp declined to let her be
disturbed.

She did not yield so very lightly to the invitation to go before a
parson. She had to be wooed after all; a Harry Hotspur's wooing. Three
clergymen of the Established Church were on the island: 'And where won't
they be, where there's fine scenery and comforts abound?' Beauchamp said
to the doctor ungratefully.

'Whether a celibate clergy ruins the Faith faster than a non-celibate, I
won't dispute,' replied the doctor; 'but a non-celibate interwinds with
us, and is likely to keep up a one-storied edifice longer.'

Jenny hesitated. She was a fa