"His heart

The lowliest duties on itself did lay."

--WORDSWORTH.

On that June evening when Mr. Farebrother knew that he was to have the

Lowick living, there was joy in the old fashioned parlor, and even the

portraits of the great lawyers seemed to look on with satisfaction.

His mother left her tea and toast untouched, but sat with her usual

pretty primness, only showing her emotion by that flush in the cheeks

and brightness in the eyes which give an old woman a touching momentary

identity with her far-off youthful self, and saying decisively--

"The greatest comfort, Camden, is that you have deserved it."

"When a man gets a good berth, mother, half the deserving must come

after," said the son, brimful of pleasure, and not trying to conceal

it. The gladness in his face was of that active kind which seems to

have energy enough not only to flash outwardly, but to light up busy

vision within: one seemed to see thoughts, as well as delight, in his

glances.

"Now, aunt," he went on, rubbing his hands and looking at Miss Noble,

who was making tender little beaver-like noises, "There shall be

sugar-candy always on the table for you to steal and give to the

children, and you shall have a great many new stockings to make

presents of, and you shall darn your own more than ever!"

Miss Noble nodded at her nephew with a subdued half-frightened laugh,

conscious of having already dropped an additional lump of sugar into

her basket on the strength of the new preferment.

"As for you, Winny"--the Vicar went on--"I shall make no difficulty

about your marrying any Lowick bachelor--Mr. Solomon Featherstone, for

example, as soon as I find you are in love with him."

Miss Winifred, who had been looking at her brother all the while and

crying heartily, which was her way of rejoicing, smiled through her

tears and said, "You must set me the example, Cam: _you_ must marry

now."

"With all my heart. But who is in love with me? I am a seedy old

fellow," said the Vicar, rising, pushing his chair away and looking

down at himself. "What do you say, mother?"

"You are a handsome man, Camden: though not so fine a figure of a man

as your father," said the old lady.

"I wish you would marry Miss Garth, brother," said Miss Winifred. "She

would make us so lively at Lowick."

"Very fine! You talk as if young women were tied up to be chosen, like

poultry at market; as if I had only to ask and everybody would have

me," said the Vicar, not caring to specify.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024