He broke off, pointed bluntly to the munched pulp of the fig, and said loudly:
—I allude to that.—
—Um—Cranly said as before.
—Do you intend that now—the squat student said—as ipso facto or, let us say, as so to speak?—
Dixon turned aside from his group, saying:
—Goggins was waiting for you, Glynn. He has gone round to the Adelphi to look for you and Moynihan. What have you there?—he asked, tapping the portfolio under Glynn's arm.
—Examination papers—Glynn answered.—I give them monthly examinations to see that they are profiting by my tuition.—
He also tapped the portfolio and coughed gently and smiled.
—Tuition!—said Cranly rudely. I suppose you mean the barefooted children that are taught by a bloody ape like you. God help them!—
He bit off the rest of the fig and flung away the butt.
—I suffer little children to come unto me—Glynn said amiably.
—A bloody ape—Cranly repeated with emphasis—and a blasphemous bloody ape!
Temple stood up and, pushing past Cranly, addressed Glynn:
—That phrase you said now—he said—is from the new testament about suffer the children to come to me.—
—Go to sleep again, Temple—said O'Keeffe.
—Very well, then—Temple continued, still addressing Glynn—and if Jesus suffered the children to come why does the church send them all to hell if they die unbaptised? Why is that?—
[277]
