It will be time enough to
talk about who's to get the order when we've made up our minds what the
order is to be."
Both the words and the manner rasped the nerves of Mr. Calvin almost
beyond endurance. He was accustomed to phrasing his views with
elegance, and although in truth his ideas in the matter on hand were
not widely different from those of Mr. Irons, the latter had stated the
proposition with a boldness which made it impossible for him to agree
with it. By birth, by instinct, and by lifelong training a faithful
servant of the god Dagon, he yet seldom professed his allegiance
frankly. He sheltered his slavish adherence to conventions under a
decent show of following convictions; so that the pure and
straightforward Philistinism which Mr. Irons professed from simple lack
of a knowledge of the secrets of what might perhaps be called the
priestly cult of Philistia, appeared to Peter Calvin shockingly crude
and offensive.
"Perhaps," he said, with a smile which was hardly less sweet than
usual, so well trained were the muscles of his face in producing it,
"it can hardly be said that we can decide. The artist after all cannot
be expected to accept too many limitations if he is to produce a work
of art. His genius must have full play."
Secretly, Irons had a most profound respect for the other's art
knowledge, and he was too anxious to appear well in his capacity as a
member of the statue committee to be willing to run any risks by
attempting to controvert any aesthetic proposition laid down by Mr.
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