supposed that Jericho was the Paris of the high class Jews of those
days.

Then the conversation of these critics drifted on to the Paris of
to-day, and the sermon and its lessons were forgotten as easily as is
an ordinary sermon. But all the same it was plain that the clergyman had
fallen short of what was expected of him upon this occasion. His book
had gone far, and it was felt that he should have gone one better than
his book, so to speak. Instead of that his sermon had been one to which
scarcely any exception could be taken.

But the bishop's chaplain, who had watched at intervals of praying, came
to the conclusion that the rector of St. Chad's was a good deal cleverer
than the majority of youngish clergymen who endeavor to qualify
for prosecution. It may be unorthodox to cross one's arms with the
regularity of clockwork on coming to certain words in the service, and
young clergymen had been prosecuted for less; but it was not unorthodox
to speak evil of the Jews--for did not the Church pray for the Jews
daily? and can anyone insult a man more than by praying for him--unless,
of course, he is a king, in which case it is understood that no insult
is intended?

The bishop's chaplain prepared a report of the sermon for his lordship,
pointing out its general harmony, broadly speaking, with the tenets of
the Church.

Mr. Ayrton also seemed to perceive a sort of cleverness in the sermon.
There was nothing in it that was calculated to shock even the most
susceptible hearer. Indeed, it seemed to Mr. Ayrton that there was a
good deal in it that was calculated to soothe the nerves of those who