Liz Pile
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An extract from Two Rivers
Littleworth, Gloucestershire, 9th November 1914
Charlotte had hoped for a few minutes alone, to rehearse her speech to her aunt, but when she opened the door she found the drawing room already occupied.
The Reverend Bemblow was an aged bachelor, as familiar a figure in the great house as its own butler. He was ensconced in a large armchair beside the fire, perusing The Times, the only relief from his sombre black gabardine provided by a heavy gold watch chain that merely emphasised his generous paunch.
‘Mr B!’ she said, advancing into the room and forcing a welcome into her voice. He thrust his paper to one side and started to heave himself to his feet. ‘Please, don’t get up.’ But he was already standing, breathing heavily with the effort.
‘Charlotte, my dear.’ He took her hand, and held it for a fraction of a second longer than she liked. ‘You are well, I trust?’
‘Very well, thank you.’ She escaped and moved to sit on a prim brocaded armchair a few feet away. ‘I’m sorry I missed you this afternoon.’
‘We certainly missed your efficient minute-taking. Never mind. How is your little hobby coming along?’
Hobby! Why did no one in this house take her seriously? ‘I’m translating a volume of German poetry for the university press. And some essays on theology for the Bishop.’
He looked taken aback. ‘Really? For the Bishop, you say?... Well, he is a great scholar, of course. But are you familiar with theological language? It’s a long way from your schoolbooks.’
‘Luckily, Mr B, I have been well taught by Miss Zaidie. Her father was a professor at Leipzig. I know a little more German than your average English schoolgirl.’
‘I see. And ...may I ask, what kind of articles they are?’
‘It’s the new theologians - Harnack, Schweitzer. They’re using modern methods of scholarship to pull the Bible apart, try to understand it better. You see— ’
‘What? Miss Charlotte, I am truly shocked! Who has poisoned your mind with this nonsense? Miss Zaidie? Not the Bishop, surely?’
‘Well, it was the bishop who—‘
‘But Miss Charlotte, these are truly dangerous men. Why, they even question the divinity of Christ. They are undermining the whole of Christianity! And your name - my parish - is associated with this pollution? What is the Bishop thinking of?’
‘Mr B, my name does not appear on what I do – much less the name of this parish. So you can set your mind at rest. And it’s only for the Bishop’s own use. I believe he intends to issue a commentary of some kind.’
‘I should hope so!’ he said. ‘I can’t imagine for one moment the Bishop will countenance such mumbo-jumbo. Someone needs to put a stop to it. I’m glad he’s taking a stand.’
She didn’t reply. The Bishop was certainly not dismissing it - far from it But she was not going to enlighten Mr B any further. He would find out soon enough..