In the evening, when Caleb, rather tired with his day's work, was

seated in silence with his pocket-book open on his knee, while Mrs.

Garth and Mary were at their sewing, and Letty in a corner was

whispering a dialogue with her doll, Mr. Farebrother came up the

orchard walk, dividing the bright August lights and shadows with the

tufted grass and the apple-tree boughs. We know that he was fond of

his parishioners the Garths, and had thought Mary worth mentioning to

Lydgate. He used to the full the clergyman's privilege of disregarding

the Middlemarch discrimination of ranks, and always told his mother

that Mrs. Garth was more of a lady than any matron in the town. Still,

you see, he spent his evenings at the Vincys', where the matron, though

less of a lady, presided over a well-lit drawing-room and whist. In

those days human intercourse was not determined solely by respect. But

the Vicar did heartily respect the Garths, and a visit from him was no

surprise to that family. Nevertheless he accounted for it even while

he was shaking hands, by saying, "I come as an envoy, Mrs. Garth: I

have something to say to you and Garth on behalf of Fred Vincy. The

fact is, poor fellow," he continued, as he seated himself and looked

round with his bright glance at the three who were listening to him,

"he has taken me into his confidence."

Mary's heart beat rather quickly: she wondered how far Fred's

confidence had gone.

"We haven't seen the lad for months," said Caleb. "I couldn't think

what was become of him."

"He has been away on a visit," said the Vicar, "because home was a

little too hot for him, and Lydgate told his mother that the poor

fellow must not begin to study yet. But yesterday he came and poured

himself out to me. I am very glad he did, because I have seen him grow

up from a youngster of fourteen, and I am so much at home in the house

that the children are like nephews and nieces to me. But it is a

difficult case to advise upon. However, he has asked me to come and

tell you that he is going away, and that he is so miserable about his

debt to you, and his inability to pay, that he can't bear to come

himself even to bid you good by."

"Tell him it doesn't signify a farthing," said Caleb, waving his hand.

"We've had the pinch and have got over it. And now I'm going to be as

rich as a Jew."

"Which means," said Mrs. Garth, smiling at the Vicar, "that we are

going to have enough to bring up the boys well and to keep Mary at

home."




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