--Because the church is cruel like all old sinners, Temple said.
--Are you quite orthodox on that point, Temple? Dixon said suavely.
--Saint Augustine says that about unbaptized children going to hell,
Temple answered, because he was a cruel old sinner too.
--I bow to you, Dixon said, but I had the impression that limbo
existed for such cases.
--Don't argue with him, Dixon, Cranly said brutally. Don't talk to him
or look at him. Lead him home with a sugan the way you'd lead a
bleating goat.
--Limbo! Temple cried. That's a fine invention too. Like hell.
--But with the unpleasantness left out, Dixon said.
He turned smiling to the others and said:
--I think I am voicing the opinions of all present in saying so much.
--You are, Glynn said in a firm tone. On that point Ireland is united.
He struck the ferrule of his umbrella on the stone floor of the
colonnade.
--Hell, Temple said. I can respect that invention of the grey spouse
of Satan. Hell is Roman, like the walls of the Romans, strong and ugly.
But what is limbo?
--Put him back into the perambulator, Cranly, O'Keeffe called out.
Cranly made a swift step towards Temple, halted, stamping his foot,
crying as if to a fowl:
--Hoosh!
Temple moved away nimbly.
Pages:
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350