the grey room(灰房间)-第32章
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youth is seldom clothed in the whole armor of righteousness。 My dear
son was a good and honorable man； but he was not a religious man。 He
had yet to learn the incomparable and vital value of the practice of
Christian faith。 Hardcastle invited his own doom。 He admitted…he even
appeared to pride himself upon a crude and pagan rationalism。 It is not
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surprising that such a man should be called away to learn the lessons of
which he stood so gravely in need。〃
〃I know that our dear Tom was bidden to higher work … to labor in a
higher cause than here； to purer knowledge of those things that matter
most to the human soul；〃 said Mary。 〃But that is not to say God chose to
take him by a miracle。 For what you believe amounts to a miracle。 You
know that I am bearing my loss in the same spirit as yourself； but； granted
it had to be at God's will； that is no reason why we should suppose the
means employed were outside nature。〃
〃How can you pretend they are inside nature； as we know it？〃 asked
her father。
〃We know nothing at all yet； and I implore Mr。 May to wait until we
are at least assured that science cannot find a reason。〃
〃Fear not for me； my child；〃 answered Septimus May。 〃You forget
certain details that have assisted to decide me。 Remember that
Hardcastle had openly denied and derided the possibility of supernatural
peril。 He had challenged this potent thing not an hour before he was
brought face to face with it。 Tom went to his death innocently； this man
cannot be absolved so easily。 In my case； with my knowledge and faith；
the conditions are very different； and I oppose an impregnable barrier
between myself and the secret being。 I am an old priest； and I go
knowing the nature of my task。 My weapons are such that a good spirit
would applaud them and an evil spirit be powerless against them。 Do
you not see that the Almighty could never permit one of His creatures … for
even the devils also are His … to defeat His own minister or trample on the
name of Christ？ It would amount to that。 So armed one might walk in
safety through the lowermost hell； for hell can only believe and tremble
before the truth。〃
Mary looked hopelessly at her father； but he offered her small comfort。
Sir Walter still found himself conforming to the fierce piety and dogmatic
assurance of the man of God。 In this welter and upheaval his modest
intellect found only a foothold here； and his judgment now firmly inclined
to the confident assertions of religion。 He was himself a devout and
conventional believer； and he turned to the support of faith； and shared；
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with increasing conviction； the opinion of Septimus May； as uttered in a
volume of confident words。 He became blind to the physical danger。
He even showed a measure of annoyance at Mary's obstinate entreaties。
She strove to calm him； and told him he was not himself … an assertion that；
by his inner consciousness of its truth； seemed to incense Sir Walter。
He begged her to be silent； and declared that her remarks savored of
irreverence。 Startled and bewildered by such a criticism； the woman was
indeed silent for some time； while her father…in…law flowed on and uttered
his conviction。 Yet not all his intensity and asseverations could justify
such extravagant assertion。 At another time they might even have
amused Mary； but in sight of the fact that her father was yielding； and that
the end of the argument would mean the clergyman in the Grey Room； she
could win nothing but frantic anxiety from the situation。 Sir Walter was
broken； he had lost his hold on reality； and she realized that。 His
unsettled intelligence had gone over to the opposition； and there was none；
as it seemed； to argue on her side。
Septimus May had acted like a dangerous drug on Sir Walter； he
ppeared to be intoxicated in some degree。 But only in mind； not in
manner。 He argued for his new attitude； and he was not as excited as the
priest； but maintained his usual level tones。
〃I agreed with Mannering and Henry yesterday； as you know； Mary；〃
he said； 〃and at my desire Mr。 May desisted from his wish。 We see how
mistaken I was； how right he must have been。 I have thought it out this
afternoon； calmly and logically。 These unfortunate young men have died
without a reason； for be sure no explanation of Peter Hardcastle's death
will be forthcoming though the whole College of Surgeons examines his
corpse。 Then we must admit that life has been snatched out of these
bodies by some force of which we have no conception。 Were it natural；
science would have discovered a reason for death； but it could not；
because their lives flowed away as water out of a bottle； leaving the bottle
unchanged in every particular。 But life does not desert its physical
habitation on these terms。 It cannot quit a healthy； human body neither
ruined nor rent。 You must be honest with yourself； my child； as well as
with your father…in…law and me。 A physical cause being absolutely ruled
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out； what remains？ To…night I emphatically support Mr。 May； and my
conscience； long in terrible concern； is now at rest again。 And because it
is at rest； I know that I have done well。 I believe that what dear Tom's
father desires to do … namely； to spend this night in the Grey Room … is
now within his province and entirely proper to his profession； and I share
his perfect faith and confidence。〃
〃It is you who lack faith； Mary；〃 continued Septimus May。 〃You lack
faith； otherwise you would appreciate the unquestionable truth of what
your father tells you。 Listen；〃 he continued； 〃and understand something of
what this means from a larger outlook than our own selfish and immediate
interests。 Much may come of my action for the Faith at large。 I may
find an answer to those grave questions concerning the life beyond and the
whole problem of spiritualism now convulsing the Church and casting us
into opposing sections。 It is untrodden and mysterious ground； but I am
called upon to tread it。 For my part； I am never prepared to flout
inquirers if they approach these subjects in a reverent spirit。 We must not
revile good men because they think differently from ourselves。 We must
examine the assertions of such inquirers as Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir
Conan Doyle in a mood of reverence and sympathy。 Some men drift
away from the truth in vital particulars； but not so far that they cannot
return if the road is made clear to them。
〃We must remember that our conviction of a double ex
