She stood erect in a kind of cold fury, and swept out
of the room. Jimmy began to chuckle, and his father
looked perplexed.
"I am sorry that my opinions are offensive to Lady
Saltire," I remarked.
"Yes, yes; it's a pity; a pity," said he "well, well,
we must say what we think; but it's a pity you think it--
a very great pity."
I quite expected to get my dismissal over this
business, and indeed, indirectly I may say that I did so.
From that day Lady Saltire was as rude to me as she could
be, and never lost an opportunity of making attacks upon
what she imagined to be my opinions. Of these I never
took the slightest notice; but at last on an evil day she
went for me point-blank, so that there was no getting
away from her. It was just at the end of lunch, when the
footman had left the room. She had been talking about
Lord Saltire's going up to London to vote upon some
question in the House of Lords.
"Perhaps, Dr. Munro," said she, turning acidly
upon me, "that is also an institution which has not been
fortunate enough to win your approval."
"It is a question, Lady Saltire, which I should much
prefer not to discuss," I answered.
"Oh, you might just as well have the courage of your
convictions," said she. "Since you desire to despoil the
National Church, it is natural enough that you should
wish also to break up the Constitution. I have heard
that an atheist is always a red republican.
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