"You think it was that?"

"He never will take advice from any one. That's his--one of his great
faults. Whatever he thinks, whatever he says, must be right. You, as a
layman, probably have no idea how a certain type of clergyman loves
authority."

This remark struck Malling as in such singularly bad taste--considering
where they were, and that one of them was Mr. Harding's guest, the other
his curate--that only his secret desire to make obscure things clear
prevented him from resenting it.

"It is one of the curses of the Church," continued Chichester, "this
passion for authority, for ruling, for having all men under one's feet as
it were. If men would only listen, take advice, see themselves as they
really are, how much finer, how much greater, they might become!"

"See themselves as others see them! Eh?" said Malling. "But do you mean
that a rector should depend on his curate's advice rather than on his own
judgment?"

"And why not?" said Chichester. "Rector--curate--archbishop--what does it
matter? The point is not what rank in the hierarchy a man has, but what,
and how, does he see? A street boy may perceive a truth that a king is
blind to. At that moment the street boy is greater than the king. Do you
deny it?"

"No," said Malling, amazed at the curate's excitement, but showing no
astonishment.