for the sake of a County Council contract. (He nods at him to
enforce the point; then goes to the hearth-rug, where he takes up
a comfortably commanding position with his back to the fire, and
continues) No: I like a man to be true to himself, even in
wickedness. Come now: either take your hat and go; or else sit
down and give me a good scoundrelly reason for wanting to be
friends with me. (Burgess, whose emotions have subsided
sufficiently to be expressed by a dazed grin, is relieved by this
concrete proposition. He ponders it for a moment, and then,
slowly and very modestly, sits down in the chair Morell has just
left.) That's right. Now, out with it.

BURGESS (chuckling in spite of himself.) Well, you ARE a queer
bird, James, and no mistake. But (almost enthusiastically) one
carnt 'elp likin' you; besides, as I said afore, of course one
don't take all a clorgyman says seriously, or the world couldn't
go on. Could it now? (He composes himself for graver discourse,
and turning his eyes on Morell proceeds with dull seriousness.)
Well, I don't mind tellin' you, since it's your wish we should be
free with one another, that I did think you a bit of a fool once;
but I'm beginnin' to think that p'r'aps I was be'ind the times a
bit.

MORELL (delighted ). Aha! You're finding that out at last, are
you?

BURGESS (portentously). Yes, times 'as changed mor'n I could a
believed. Five yorr (year) ago, no sensible man would a thought
o' takin' up with your ideas. I hused to wonder you was let
preach at all. Why, I know a clorgyman that 'as bin kep' hout of