And let me tell
you, sir, I wish that, as a man and a Minor Canon, you were better
employed,' with a nod. 'Better employed,' with another nod. 'Bet-
ter em-ployed!' with another and the three nods added up.
Mr. Crisparkle rose; a little heated in the face, but with perfect
command of himself.
'Mr. Honeythunder,' he said, taking up the papers referred to: 'my
being better or worse employed than I am at present is a matter of
taste and opinion. You might think me better employed in enrolling
myself a member of your Society.'
'Ay, indeed, sir!' retorted Mr. Honeythunder, shaking his head in a
threatening manner. 'It would have been better for you if you had
done that long ago!'
'I think otherwise.'
'Or,' said Mr. Honeythunder, shaking his head again, 'I might think
one of your profession better employed in devoting himself to the
discovery and punishment of guilt than in leaving that duty to be
undertaken by a layman.'
'I may regard my profession from a point of view which teaches me
that its first duty is towards those who are in necessity and
tribulation, who are desolate and oppressed,' said Mr. Crisparkle.
'However, as I have quite clearly satisfied myself that it is no
part of my profession to make professions, I say no more of that.
But I owe it to Mr. Neville, and to Mr. Neville's sister (and in a
much lower degree to myself), to say to you that I KNOW I was in
the full possession and understanding of Mr. Neville's mind and
heart at the time of this occurrence; and that, without in the
least colouring or concealing what was to be deplored in him and
required to be corrected, I feel certain that his tale is true.
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