The vibration of an intellectual movement was felt from the golden head to the miry toes of the Establishment; and so it came to pass that, in the district round Milby, the market-town close to Shepperton, the clergy had agreed to have a clerical meeting every month, wherein they would exercise their intellects by discussing theological and ecclesiastical questions, and cement their brotherly love by discussing a good dinner.

A Book Society naturally suggested itself as an adjunct of this agreeable plan; and thus, you perceive, there was provision made for ample friction of the clerical mind.
Now, the Rev.Amos Barton was one of those men who have a decided will and opinion of their own; he held himself bolt upright, and had no self-distrust.

He would march very determinedly along the road he thought best; but then it was wonderfully easy to convince him which was the best road.

And so a very little unwonted reading and unwonted discussion made him see that an Episcopalian Establishment was much more than unobjectionable, and on many other points he began to feel that he held opinions a little too far-sighted and profound to be crudely and suddenly communicated to ordinary minds.

He was like an onion that has been rubbed with spices; the strong original odour was blended with something new and foreign.