66 IDLEHURST : 



imagine, from the Methodist societies, and by them 

 called Revivals. This gentleman was shocked by 

 the lethargy of Arnington ; professionally, he observed 

 an open door. "My dear sir, you have made no 

 impression upon the people at all ! The place wants 

 rousing, sir, rousing! These stagnant country 

 parishes have really no chance;" and so forth, and 

 so forth. The Rector said nothing, but presently took 

 the man with him on a long round of visits to the 

 outlying farms and cottages, and brought him home 

 silent and reflective, with a world of new light upon 

 the matter of personal religion and pastoral methods ; 

 with some perception, it may be, of the truth that 

 roots work underground, and that there are means 

 of influence to be found in a lifetime which are 

 wanting to the programme of an emotional fortnight. 

 To-day, as we trudged along the somewhat dreary 

 road, the wind harsh on our faces and the sky black 

 before us, our talk ran upon the youth of the parish, 

 taking as starting-point Henery Bish, whose two 

 days' work in the garden were still raw in my mind. 

 I found my conclusions from externals to be mainly 

 right. Henery is a drone, of the stingless sort as 

 yet, the Rector says. He has made some study of 

 him, and thinks he would be consistently immoral but 

 for general restraining funk. This holds good of too 



