Then why should
not they, too, employ the same kind of instruments, if they could, in
return? The second party held that a religious persecution could not be
held to constitute a state of war; the Apostles Peter and Paul, for
example, not only did not employ the arm of flesh against the Roman
Empire, but actually repudiated it. And this party further held that
even the Pope's bull, relieving Elizabeth's subjects from their
allegiance, did so only in an interior sense--in such a manner that
while they must still regard her personal and individual rights--such
rights as any human being possessed--they were not bound to render
interior loyalty to her as their Queen, and need not, for example
(though they were not forbidden to do so), regard it as a duty to fight
for her, in the event, let us say, of an armed invasion from Spain.
There, then, was the situation; and Mr. Anthony had, plainly, crossed
swords this evening on the point.
"The Jesuit is too simple," he said suddenly, as he strode about. "I
think--" He broke off.
His sister smiled upon him placidly.
"You are too hot, Anthony," she said.
The man turned sharply towards her.
"All the praying in the world," he said, "has not saved us so far. It
seems to me time--"
"Perhaps our Lord would not have us saved," she said; "as you mean it."
III
It was not until Christmas Eve that Marjorie went to St. Paul's, for all
that it was so close. But the days were taken up with the visitors; a
hundred matters had to be arranged; for it was decided that before the
New Year all were to be dispersed.
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