would be ungentlemanly of me to continue.”
“Thank you,” Selina said, making a concerted effort not to
blush.
There was a slight pause as Malcolm addressed himself to his
meal and Selina struggled to regain her composure. Then Malcolm asked: “Since you have ordered me to change the
subject, tell me, what is your opinion of the Church Building Act?”
“What a weighty question to ask over soup. I believe it is in bad taste to discuss
politics before the entrée is served.”
“You are probably correct. However, I would really like to hear your opinion.”
Selina looked up at Malcolm, whom she found looking very
serious all of a sudden. Why, I do
believe he’s testing me , she thought in surprise. She found herself growing a little anxious
under his critical gaze and could think of nothing to say. What if she said the wrong thing? What was it he wanted her to say?
Then she felt an energizing spurt of anger followed by a
wonderful calm. How dare he sit in
judgment of her. She did not care what
he thought.
“Well, as the daughter of a clergyman, it is obviously
important to me that there are houses of worship available to all. However, I cannot help but feel that the
million pounds set aside for this purpose exorbitant. The Holy Book itself says: ‘If a brother or sister be naked and
destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what doth it profit?’ I believe our government intends by this measure to suppress the
radicals and keep anarchy at bay, when they could use some of those funds to
better the lot of the poor, thereby accomplishing the same purpose, but in a
way more truly Christian. I do not
suppose that Jesus Christ, who ‘had no where to lay his head’, and who
frequently fed the poor would be pleased with some elaborate structure built in
his name while those of its congregation had barely enough to eat.”
Selina had grown impassioned during her speech and,
realizing that her voice had begun to rise, broke off in some embarrassment and
looked over at Malcolm. “I apologize for
the lecture, but you did ask my opinion.”
“And I should have known better than to ask the daughter of
a clergyman. I am sure your father
himself could not preach a more eloquent sermon,” he told her, smiling.
“So what is your opinion?”
“Very much the same, actually,” Malcolm said. “Although I do not think I could have begun
to express it as well as you just did.”
Selina, sensing the approval in his gaze, realized she’d
passed his test. She was pleased for a
moment, until she remembered that she had begun the evening with the resolve to fail to meet his requirements.
She reminded herself of this once again when the gentlemen
rejoined the ladies after dinner and Julia announced that there should be
music.
“Selina, would you honor us with a song?” Julia asked.
“I am sorry, Julia, but I have no musical ability
whatsoever. It would be a punishment to
force you all to listen to me.”
There were quite varying reactions to Selina’s calm
pronouncement. Cassie looked pleased, as
he felt it a punishment to have to listen to any lady perform on the
pianoforte, skilled or not. Mr. Ossory
looked his same agreeable self; he actually smiled at Selina’s admission. Mr. Malcolm looked a little displeased,
Selina thought, perhaps even surprised. Julia, of course, looked cross, but managed a little chuckle.
“Oh, Selina, you are quite the joker. Of course you have musical ability. I heard you play myself just yesterday. She is quite talented,” she assured Malcolm.
Selina had thought Julia out of the house when she was
practicing the day before. She had not
realized Julia had heard her. She
thought about arguing further but Julia appeared implacable in her
determination to have
“Thank you,” Selina said, making a concerted effort not to
blush.
There was a slight pause as Malcolm addressed himself to his
meal and Selina struggled to regain her composure. Then Malcolm asked: “Since you have ordered me to change the
subject, tell me, what is your opinion of the Church Building Act?”
“What a weighty question to ask over soup. I believe it is in bad taste to discuss
politics before the entrée is served.”
“You are probably correct. However, I would really like to hear your opinion.”
Selina looked up at Malcolm, whom she found looking very
serious all of a sudden. Why, I do
believe he’s testing me , she thought in surprise. She found herself growing a little anxious
under his critical gaze and could think of nothing to say. What if she said the wrong thing? What was it he wanted her to say?
Then she felt an energizing spurt of anger followed by a
wonderful calm. How dare he sit in
judgment of her. She did not care what
he thought.
“Well, as the daughter of a clergyman, it is obviously
important to me that there are houses of worship available to all. However, I cannot help but feel that the
million pounds set aside for this purpose exorbitant. The Holy Book itself says: ‘If a brother or sister be naked and
destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what doth it profit?’ I believe our government intends by this measure to suppress the
radicals and keep anarchy at bay, when they could use some of those funds to
better the lot of the poor, thereby accomplishing the same purpose, but in a
way more truly Christian. I do not
suppose that Jesus Christ, who ‘had no where to lay his head’, and who
frequently fed the poor would be pleased with some elaborate structure built in
his name while those of its congregation had barely enough to eat.”
Selina had grown impassioned during her speech and,
realizing that her voice had begun to rise, broke off in some embarrassment and
looked over at Malcolm. “I apologize for
the lecture, but you did ask my opinion.”
“And I should have known better than to ask the daughter of
a clergyman. I am sure your father
himself could not preach a more eloquent sermon,” he told her, smiling.
“So what is your opinion?”
“Very much the same, actually,” Malcolm said. “Although I do not think I could have begun
to express it as well as you just did.”
Selina, sensing the approval in his gaze, realized she’d
passed his test. She was pleased for a
moment, until she remembered that she had begun the evening with the resolve to fail to meet his requirements.
She reminded herself of this once again when the gentlemen
rejoined the ladies after dinner and Julia announced that there should be
music.
“Selina, would you honor us with a song?” Julia asked.
“I am sorry, Julia, but I have no musical ability
whatsoever. It would be a punishment to
force you all to listen to me.”
There were quite varying reactions to Selina’s calm
pronouncement. Cassie looked pleased, as
he felt it a punishment to have to listen to any lady perform on the
pianoforte, skilled or not. Mr. Ossory
looked his same agreeable self; he actually smiled at Selina’s admission. Mr. Malcolm looked a little displeased,
Selina thought, perhaps even surprised. Julia, of course, looked cross, but managed a little chuckle.
“Oh, Selina, you are quite the joker. Of course you have musical ability. I heard you play myself just yesterday. She is quite talented,” she assured Malcolm.
Selina had thought Julia out of the house when she was
practicing the day before. She had not
realized Julia had heard her. She
thought about arguing further but Julia appeared implacable in her
determination to have
Similar Books
