Church; all who decline to come into it are there called Dissenters.'
'Does it tire you to have me ask questions, papa?'
'No.'
'Who established the Church there?'
'The Government.'
'What for?'
'Wanted to rule men's consciences as well as their bodies.'
'But a government cannot do that, papa?'
'They have tried, Esther. Tried by fire and sword, and cruelty, and persecution; by fines and imprisonments and disqualifications. Some submitted, but a goodly number dissented, and our family has always belonged to that honourable number. See you do it no discredit. The Gainsboroughs were always Independents; we fought with Cromwell, and suffered under the Stuarts. We have an unbroken record of striving for the right. Keep to your traditions, my dear.'
'But why should a Government wish to rule people's consciences, papa?'
'Power, my dear. As long as men's minds are free, there is something where power does not reach.'
'I should think everybody would like Dissenters, papa?' was Esther's simple conclusion.
'Mrs. Dallas doesn't,' said the colonel grimly.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
