Soon it will be some one else's turn to give them the orders--' 'Till the time comes for them to give orders themselves ?--Well, what is there to object to in that ?' He scanned her severely.

'What does it mean but that they are parts of a great system, properly organised, to a great end?
Show me anything better ?' She coloured.
'It is better, isn't it, that--sometimes--one should give oneself orders ?' she said in a low voice.
Manisty laughed.
'Liberty to make a fool of oneself--in short.

No doubt,--that's the great modern panacea.' He paused, staring at her without being conscious of it, with his absent brilliant eyes.

Then he broke out--'Well! so you despise my little priests! Did you ever think of inquiring, however, which wears best--their notion of human life, which after all has weathered 1900 years, and is as strong and prevailing as it ever was--or the sort of notion that their enemies here go to work upon?
Look into the history of this Abyssinian war--everybody free to make fools of themselves, in Rome or Africa--and doing it magnificently! Private judgment--private aims everywhere--from Crispi to the smallest lieutenant.

Result--universal wreck and muddle--thousands of lives thrown away--a nation brought to shame.
Then look about you at what's going on--here--this week--on these hills.
It's Holy Week.