I wish to ask if you will give us the pleasure of your company.' Mr.Wyvern reflected for a moment.
'Why, no, sir,' he replied at length, using the Johnsonian phrase with grave courtesy.

'I'm afraid I cannot acknowledge your kindness as I should wish to.

Personally, I would accept your hospitality with pleasure, but my position here, as I understand it, forbids me to join you on that particular occasion.' 'Then personally you are not hostile to me, Mr.Wyvern ?' 'To you personally, by no means.' 'But you don't like the movement ?' 'In so far as it has the good of men in view it interests me, and I respect its supporters.' 'But you think we go the wrong way to work ?' 'That is my opinion, Mr.Mutimer.' 'What would you have us do ?' 'To see faults is a much easier thing than to originate a sound scheme.
I am far from prepared with any plan of social reconstruction.' Nor could Mr.Wyvern be moved from the negative attitude, though Mutimer pressed him.
'Well, I'm sorry you won't come,' Richard said as he rose to take his leave.

'It didn't strike me that you would feel out of place.' 'Nor should I.But you will understand that my opportunities of being useful in the village depend on the existence of sympathetic feeling in my parishioners.

It is my duty to avoid any behaviour which could be misinterpreted.' 'Then you deliberately adapt yourself to the prejudices of unintelligent people ?' 'I do so, deliberately,' assented the vicar, with one of his fleeting smiles.
Richard went away feeling sorry that he had courted this rejection.