"He's got His holy self-respect, however," argued Gollop. "If I was Him, I'd not give myself a thought over the likes of you. 'Good riddance'--that's what I should say."
"If you was God for five minutes I wonder what you'd do, Tom," speculated Joe Voysey. "Give me a new back, I hope. That's the first favour I should ax."
"I'd catch you up into heaven, Joe. That's the kindest thing the Almighty could do for you."
"If you was to wait till I gived the word, 'twould be better," he said. "Nobody wants to leave his job unfinished."
"A good brain gone to rot--that's what's happened to you, Jack," said Nathan sadly. "Lord, He only knows why you are allowed to think such thoughts. No doubt there's a reason for it, since nought can happen without a reason; but the why and wherefore are hid from us common men, like much else that's puzzling. Anyway, we can stick to this--we Christians: though you've got no use for God, Jack, 'tis certain that God's got a use for you; and there may be those among us who will live to see what that use is."
"Well, I'm ready for a whisper," declared the free-thinker. "He won't have to tell me twice--if He only makes His meaning clear the first time."
They talked a little longer, and then Heathman Lintern came among them.
"Be Jack Head here?" he asked. "The chimney to his house have took fire seemingly, and policeman's made a note of it. But 'twas pretty near out when I come by."
"Hell!" cried Jack. "That's another five shilling gone!"
He left hurriedly to the tune of laughter, and failed to hear Gollop's triumphant final argument.
"There! There!" shouted the sexton. "There 'tis--'hell' in his everyday speech! He can't get away from it: 'tis part of nature and a common item--just as natural as heaven. And argue as he pleases, the moment he's took out of himself, the truth slips. Well may he say 'hell'! There's nobody living round here will ever have more cause to say it. And that he'll find long afore I, or another, drop the clod on his bones."
Thanks more to the diplomacy of Nathan Baskerville than Ned's own skill in reconciliation, Cora forgave her lover and their marriage day was fixed. Not a few noticed that the master of 'The White Thorn' held this union much to heart, and indeed appeared more interested in its achievement than any other save Ned himself.