human
No, my dear, continued the Vicar;
gpt
That is all very well ... for the future world, replied Mrs. Goodman;
human
After all, my dear, if one did away with hell, there would be no great harm done, and our greatest dignitaries of the Anglican Church are of this opinion, you know.
gpt
Do away with hell! cried Mrs. Goodman;
human
You excite yourself for nothing, my dear, and you are wrong to express yourself in such a way.
gpt
Protest then.
human
Against whom, against what would you have me protest? The authorities of the Church have decided the alteration; we subalterns have but to bow to their decision. Besides, I shall tell my congregation that in the New Version _life_ means future life.
gpt
Very good, Barty; a good idea, for, be sure of it, you can't get on without any hell: it is the fear of the devil that keeps the masses in submission.
human
My dear wife, I assure you once more, that if there is a hell, it matters not to us: the House of Israel--that is to say, the British nation--will be saved to the last soul.
gpt
And the others?
human
What others?
gpt
Why, the French, the Germans, the Italians, the Chinese, and the rest. What will become of them? Won't there be any of them in Paradise?
human
A few perhaps, but in very inferior places, you may be sure.
gpt
Who dies will see,
human
Just so; make yourself comfortable; calm yourself, and have no fear for the future. And now let me finish my sermon for to-morrow.
gpt
Don't talk to me of your sermons; you have enough of them, there in your cupboards, to preach from, for the rest of your days.
human
My dear, it is a sermon of my own composition that I am preparing.
gpt
That will be a treat for the congregation! Come, put away all that, and drive me to the station; the carriage is ready.
human
It is impossible, my love; I have several letters to write.
gpt
You can write them to-morrow.
human
You would not have me write letters on a Sunday!
gpt
Can't you date them the day before? Really, Barty, I did not think you were so simple as that.
human
Besides, added the worthy Mr. Goodman,
gpt
I have several places to go to, a lot of bills to pay: the tradesmen are bothering me....
human
Send them some tracts to remind them that humility and patience are Christian virtues.
gpt
That does not pay in these days.
human
Whose fault is it? How can you expect that those people will believe in you, when you don't believe in yourselves?
gpt
My dear, my dear, I beg you will not renew that subject. You give me a headache. Come, you are right to make me go out; I will drive you to the station.