do not feel myself qualified to be a good clergyman."

"It is not that you have doubts, is it?"

"I might have them if I came to think much about it--as I must do if I
took orders. And I do not wish to be crippled in doing what I think
lawful by conventional rules. A rebellious clergyman is, I think, a
sorry abject. It seems to me that he is a bird fouling his own nest.
Now, I know I should be a rebellious clergyman."

"In our church the life of a clergyman is as the life of any other
gentleman--within very broad limits."

"Then why did Bishop Proudie interfere with your hunting?"

"Limits may be very broad, Harry, and yet exclude hunting. Bishop
Proudie was vulgar and intrusive, such being the nature of his wife, who
instructs him; but if you were in orders I should be very sorry to see
you take to hunting."

"It seems to me that a clergyman has nothing to do in life unless he is
always preaching and teaching. Look at Saul"--Mr. Saul was the curate of
Clavering--"he is always preaching and teaching. He is doing the best he
can; and what a life of it he has. He has literally thrown off all
worldly cares--and, consequently, everybody laughs at him, and nobody
loves him. I don't believe a better man breathes, but I shouldn't like
his life."

At this point there was another pause, which lasted till the cigars had
come to an end. Then, as he threw the stump into the fire, Mr. Clavering