.

.

.

As a matter of fact, I _had_ guessed your object to be something of the sort," he added dryly.
"As you may suppose--and as, indeed, is but proper in Merchester-- special stress will be laid throughout on the ecclesiastical side of the story: the influence of Mother Church, permeating and at every turn informing our national life." "But you said a moment ago that you were leaving out the Reformation." "We seek rather to illustrate the _continuity_ of her influence." Brother Copas took snuff.
"You must not think, however," pursued the Chaplain, "that we are giving the thing a sectarian trend.

On the contrary, we are taking great care to avoid it.