Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

18 RAVENSHOE.
door before Densil had time either to finish the sentence written
above or to say, "Come in." "This is a heavy affliction, and the
heavier because "
" Go away! " said Densil, pointing to the door.
" Nay, nay," said the priest; " hear me - "
" Go away!" said Densil, in a louder tone. "Do you hear
me? I want to be alone, and I mean to be. Go! "
How recklessly defiant weak men get when they are once
fairly in a rage! Densil, who was in general civilly afraid of
this man, would have defied fifty such as he now.
" There is one thing, Mr. Ravenshoe," said the priest, in a very
different tone, "about which I feel it my duty to speak to you, in.spite of the somewhat unreasonable form your grief has assumed.
I wish to know what you mean to call your son."
"Why?"
"Because he is ailing, and I wish to baptize him."
"You will do nothing of the kind, sir," said Densil, as red as a
turkey-cock. "He will be baptized in proper time in the parish
church. He is to be brought up a Protestant."
The priest looked steadily at Densil, who, now brought fairly
to bay, was bent on behaving like a valiant man, and said,
slowly," So my suspicions are confirmed, then, and you have determined to hand over your son to eternal perdition." (He did n't
say perdition - he used a stronger word, which we will dispense
with, if you have no objection.)
"Perdition, sir!" bawled Densil; "how dare you talk of a
son of mine in that free-and-easy sort of way? Why, what my
family has done for the Church ought to keep a dozen generations of Ravenshoes from a possibility of perdition, sir. Don't
tell me."
This new and astounding theory of justification by works,
which poor Densil had broached in his wrath, was overheard by
a round-faced, bright-eyed, curly-headed man about fifty, who
entered the room suddenly, followed by James. For one instant
you might have seen a smile of intense amusement pass over his
merry face; but in an instant it was gone again, and he gravely
addressed Densil.
" My dear Mr. Ravenshoe, I must use my authority as doctor
to request that your son's spiritual welfare should for the present
yield to his temporal necessities. You must have a wet-nurse,
my good sir."
Densil's brow had grown placid in a moment beneath the doctor's kindly glance. " God bless me," he said, "I never thought
of it. Poor little lad! poor little lad! "
"I hope, sir,". said James, " that you will let Norah have the
young master. She has set her heart upon it."