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aging ways. He really seemed to look upon himself as the
most important person in the parish. Mr. Carey constantly
told his wife that if Josiah Graves did not take care he would
give him a good rap over the knuckles one day; but Mrs.
Carey advised him to bear with Josiah Graves: he meant
well, and it was not his fault if he was not quite a gentleman.
The Vicar, finding his comfort in the practice of a Christian
virtue, exercised forbearance; but he revenged himself by
calling the churchwarden Bismarck behind his back.
Once there had been a serious quarrel between the pair,
and Mrs. Carey still thought of that anxious time with
dismay. The Conservative candidate had announced his in-
tention of addressing a meeting at Blackstable; and Josiah
Graves, having arranged that it should take place in the
Mission Hall, went to Mr. Carey and told him that he hoped
he would say a few words. It appeared that the candidate
had asked Josiah Graves to take the chair. This was more
than Mr. Carey could put up with. He had firm views upon
the respect which was due to the cloth, and it was ridicu-
lous for a churchwarden to take the chair at a meeting when
the Vicar was there. He reminded Josiah Graves that parson
meant person, that is, the vicar was the person of the parish.
Josiah Graves answered that he was the first to recognise
the dignity of the church, but this was a matter of politics,
and in his turn he reminded the Vicar that their Blessed
Saviour had enjoined upon them to render unto Caesar the
things that were Caesar’s. To this Mr. Carey replied that the
devil could quote scripture to his purpose, himself had sole
authority over the Mission Hall, and if he were not asked

Of Human Bondage