"
"It is perfectly true, my lord," Father Rowley admitted, "that on Sunday
week three women did present themselves from a neighbouring parish."
"Ah, they were not parishioners?"
"Certainly not, my lord."
"Which is a point in your favour."
"Throughout the service they sat looking through opera-glasses at Snaith
who was officiating, and greatly scandalizing the children, who are not
used to such behaviour in church."
"Such behaviour was certainly most objectionable," the Bishop agreed.
"I happened to be sitting at the back of the church, thinking out my
sermon, and their behaviour annoyed me so much that I sent for the
sacristan to go and order a cab. I then went up and whispered to them
that inasmuch as they were strangers it would be better if they went and
made their Communion in the next parish where the service would be more
lenient to their theory of worship. I took one of them by the arm, led
her gently down the aisle and out into the street, and handed her into
the cab. Her two companions followed her; I paid the cabman; and that
was the end of the matter."
The Bishop lay back on the pillows and thought for a moment or two in
silence.
"Yes," he said finally, "I think that in this case you were justified.
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