father and son-第32章
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ewspaper enterprise was scarcely in its infancy； and the event owed nothing to journalistic effort； in spite of that； the news of this remarkable ceremony； the immersion of a little boy of ten years old 'as an adult'； had spread far and wide through the county in the course of three weeks。 The chapel of our hosts was； as I have said； very large； it was commonly too large for their needs； but on this night it was crowded to the ceiling； and the crowd had comeas every soft murmur assured meto see me。
There were people there who had travelled from Exeter； from Dartmouth； from Totnes； to witness so extraordinary a ceremony。 There was one old woman of eighty…five who had come； my neighbours whispered to me； all the way from Moreton…Hampstead； on purpose to see me baptized。 I looked at her crumpled countenance with amazement； for there was no curiosity； no interest visible in it。 She sat there perfectly listless； looking at nothing； but chewing between her toothless gums what appeared to be a jujube。
In the centre of the chapel…floor a number of planks had been taken up and revealed a pool which might have been supposed to be a small swimming…bath。 We gazed down into this dark square of mysterious waters； from the tepid surface of which faint swirls of vapour rose。 The whole congregation vas arranged； tier above tier； about the four straight sides of this pool； every person was able to see what happened in it without any unseemly struggling or standing on forms。 Mr。 S。 now rose； an impressive hieratic figure； commanding attention and imploring perfect silence。 He held a small book in his hand； and he vas preparing to give out the number of a hymn； when an astounding incident took place。
There was a great splash； and a tall young woman was perceived to be in the baptismal pool； her arms waving above her head； and her figure held upright in the water by the inflation of the air underneath her crinoline which was blown out like a bladder； as in some extravagant old fashion…plate。 Whether her feet touched the bottom of the font I cannot say； but I suppose they did so。 An indescribable turmoil of shrieks and cries followed on this extraordinary apparition。 A great many people excitedly called upon other people to be calm； and an instance was given of the remark of James Smith that
He who； in quest of quiet； 'Silence！' hoots Is apt to make the hubbub he imputes。
The young woman； in a more or less fainting condition； was presently removed from the water； and taken into the sort of tent which was prepared for candidates。 It was found that she herself had wished to be a candidate and had earnestly desired to be baptized； but that this had been forbidden by her parents。 On the supposition that she fell in by accident； a pious coincidence was detected in this affair； the Lord had pre…ordained that she should be baptized in spite of all opposition。 But my Father； in his shrewd way； doubted。 He pointed out to us； next morning； that； in the first place； she had not； in any sense； been baptized； as her head had not been immersed； and that； in the second place； she must have deliberately jumped in； since； had she stumbled and fallen forward； her hands and face would have struck the water； whereas they remained quite dry。 She belonged； however； to the neighbour congregation； and we had no responsibility to pursue the inquiry any further。
Decorum being again secured； Mr。 S。； with unimpaired dignity； proposed to the congregation a hymn； which was long enough to occupy them during the preparations for the actual baptism。 He then retired to the vestry； and I （for I was to be the first to testify） was led by Miss Marks and Mary Grace into the species of tent of which I have just spoken。 Its pale sides seemed to shake with the jubilant singing of the saints outside； while part of my clothing was removed and I was prepared for immersion。 A sudden cessation of the hymn warned us that to Minister was now ready； and we emerged into the glare of lights and faces to find Mr。 S。 already standing in the water up to his knees。 Feeling as small as one of our microscopical specimens； almost infinitesimally tiny as I descended into his Titanic arms； I was handed down the steps to him。 He was dressed in a kind of long surplice； underneath whichas I could not； even in that moment； help observingthe air gathered in long bubbles which he strove to flatten out。 The end of his noble beard he had tucked away； his shirt…sleeves were turned up at the wrist。
The entire congregation was now silent； so silent that the uncertain splashing of my feet as I descended seemed to deafen one。 Mr。 S。； a little embarrassed by my short stature； succeeded at length in securing me with one palm on my chest and the other between my shoulders。 He said； slowly； in a loud； sonorous voice that seemed to enter my brain and empty it； 'I baptize thee； my Brother； in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost！' Having intoned this formula； he then gently flung me backwards until I was wholly under the water； and thenas he brought me up again； and tenderly steadied my feet on the steps of the font； and delivered me； dripping and spluttering； into the anxious hands of the women； who hurried me to the tentthe whole assembly broke forth in a thunder of song； a paean of praise to God for this manifestation of his marvellous goodness and mercy。 So great was the enthusiasm； that it could hardly be restrained so as to allow the other candidates； the humdrum adults who followed in my wet and glorious footsteps； to undergo a ritual about which； in their case； no one in the congregation pretended to be able to take even the most languid interest。
My Father's happiness during the next few weeks it is not pathetic to me to look back upon。 His sternness melted into a universal complaisance。 He laughed and smiled； he paid to my opinions the tribute of the gravest considerations； he indulged utterly unlike his wontin shy and furtive caresses。 I could express no wish that he did not attempt to fulfill； and the only warning which he cared to give me was one； very gently expressed； against spiritual pride。
This was certainly required； for I was puffed out with a sense of my own holiness。 I was religiously confidential with my Father； condescending with Miss Marks （who I think had given up trying to make it all out）； haughty with the servants； and insufferably patronizing with those young companions of my own age with whom I was now beginning to associate。
I would fain close this remarkable episode on a key of solemnity； but alas！ If I am to be loyal to the truth； I must record that some of the other little boys presently complained to Mary Grace that I put out my tongue at them in mockery； during the service in the Room； to remind them that I now broke bread as one of the Saints and that they did not。
CHAPTER IX
THE result of my being admitted into the communion of the 'Saints' was that； as soon as the nine days' wonder of the thing passed by； my position became； if anything； more harassing and pressed than ever。 It is true that freedom was permitted to me in certain directions； I was allowed to act a little more on my own responsibility； and was not so incessantly informed what 'the Lord's will' might be in this matter and in that； because it was now conceived that； in such dilemmas； I could command private intelligence of my own。 But there was no relaxation of our rigid manner of life； and I think I now began； by comparing it with the habits of others； to perceive how very strict it was。
The main difference in my lot as a communicant from that of a mere dweller in the tents of righteousness was that I was expected to respond with instant fervour to every appeal of conscience。 When I did not do this； my position was almost worse than it had been before； because of the livelier nature of the responsibility which weighed upon me。 My little faults of conduct； too； assumed shapes of terrible importance； since they proceeded from one so signally enlightened。 My Father was never tired of reminding me that； now that I was a professing Christian； I must remember； in everything I did； that I was an example to others。 He used to draw dreadful pictures of supposititious little boys
