He perceived that he was returning into himself, and that the vision of the sphere and of the starry spaces was fading into non-existence.

He struggled against this return.  He felt that his demand was still unanswered.  His wife’s face had suddenly come very close to him, and he realized she intervened between him and that solution.

What was she doing here?

(9)

The great Angel seemed still to be near at hand, limitless space was all about him, and yet the bishop perceived that he was now sitting in the arm-chair in his bedroom in the palace of Princhester.  He was both there and not there.  It seemed now as if he had two distinct yet kindred selves, and that the former watched the latter.  The latter was now awakening to the things about him; the former marked his gestures and listened with an entire detachment to the words he was saying.  These words he was saying to Lady Ella:  “God is coming to rule the world, I tell you.  We must leave the church.”

Close to him sat Lady Ella, watching him with an expression in which dismay and resolution mingled.  Upon the other side of him, upon a little occasional table, was a tray with breakfast things.  He was no longer the watcher now, but the watched.

Lady Ella bent towards him as he spoke.  She seemed to struggle with and dismiss his astonishing statement.

“Edward,” she said, “you have been taking a drug.”  He looked round at his night table to see the little phial.  It had gone.  Then he saw that Lady Ella held it very firmly in her hand.

“Dunk came to me in great distress.  He said you were insensible and breathing heavily.  I came.  I realized.  I told him to say nothing to any one, but to fetch me a tray with your breakfast.  I have kept all the other servants away and I have waited here by you....  Dunk I think is safe....  You have been muttering and moving your head from side to side....”

The bishop’s mind was confused.  He felt as though God must be standing just outside the room.  “I have failed in my duty,” he said.  “But I am very near to God.”  He laid his hand on her arm.  “You know, Ella, He is very close to us....”

She looked perplexed.

He sat up in his chair.

“For some months now,” he said, “there have been new forces at work in my mind.  I have been invaded by strange doubts and still stranger realizations.  This old church of ours is an empty mask.  God is not specially concerned in it.”

“Edward!” she cried, “what are you saying?”

“I have been hesitating to tell you.  But I see now I must tell you plainly.  Our church is a cast hull.  It is like the empty skin of a snake.  God has gone out of it.”

She rose to her feet.  She was so horrified that she staggered backward, pushing her chair behind her.  “But you are mad,” she said.

He was astonished at her distress.  He stood up also.

“My dear,” he said, “I can assure you I am not mad.  I should have prepared you, I know....”