There was Sin； the serpent； in whom was also wisdom。 There
was Judas with the money and the kiss。
But there was no actual Sin。 If Ursula slapped Theresa
across the face； even on a Sunday； that was not Sin； the
everlasting。 It was misbehaviour。 If Billy played truant from
Sunday school； he was bad； he was wicked； but he was not a
Sinner。
Sin was absolute and everlasting： wickedness and badness were
temporary and relative。 When Billy； catching up the local
jargon； called Cassie a 〃sinner〃； everybody detested him。 Yet
when there came to the Marsh a flippetty…floppetty foxhound
puppy； he was mischievously christened 〃Sinner〃。
The Brangwens shrank from applying their religion to their
own immediate actions。 They wanted the sense of the eternal and
immortal； not a list of rules for everyday conduct。 Therefore
they were badly…behaved children； headstrong and arrogant；
though their feelings were generous。 They had；
moreover……intolerable to their ordinary neighbours……a
proud gesture； that did not fit with the jealous idea of the
democratic Christian。 So that they were always extraordinary；
outside of the ordinary。
How bitterly Ursula resented her first acquaintance with
evangelical teachings。 She got a peculiar thrill from the
application of salvation to her own personal case。 〃Jesus died
for me； He suffered for me。