than these, I think you will be very wrong to omit the present opportunity of going to the duke’s. I never knew the duke go so much out of his way to be civil to a clergyman as he has done in this instance.’
‘I am sure I am very much obliged to him.’
‘The fact is, that you may, if you please, make yourself popular in the county; but you cannot do itby obeying all Lady Lufton’s behests. She is a dear old woman, I am sure.’
‘She is, Sowerby; and you would say so, if you knew her.’
‘I don’t doubt it; but it would not do for you or me to live exactly according to her ideas. Now, here, in this case, the bishop of the diocese is to be one of the party, and he has, I believe, already expressed a wish that you should be another.’
‘He asked meif I were going.’
‘Exactly; and Archdeacon Grantly will be there.’
‘Will he?’ asked Mark. Now, that would be a great point gained, for Archdeacon Grantly was a close friend of Lady Lufton.
‘So I understand from Fothergill. Indeed, it will be very wrong of you not to go, and I tell you so plainly; and what is more, when you talk about your duty – you having a curate as you have – why, it isgammon.’ These last words he spoke looking back over his shoulder as he stood up in his stirrups, for he had caught the eye of the huntsman, who was surrounded by his hounds, and was now trotting on to join him.
During a great portion of the day, Mark found himself riding by the side of Mrs Proudie, as that lady leaned back in her carriage. And Mrs Proudie smiled on him graciously though herdaughter would not do so. Mrs Proudie was fond of having an attendant clergyman; and as it was evident that Mr Robarts lived amongnice people – titled dowagers, members of Parliament, and people of that sort – she was quite willing to install him as a sort of honorary chaplain
pro tern
.
‘I’ll tell you what we have settled, Mrs Harold Smith and I,’ said Mrs Proudie to him. ‘This lecture at Barchesterwill be so late on Saturday evening, that you had all better come and dine with us.’
Mark bowed and thanked her, and declared that he should be very happy to make one of such a party. Even Lady Lufton could not object to this, although she was not especially fond of Mrs Proudie.
‘And then they are to sleep at the hotel. It will really be too late for ladies to think of going back so far at thistime of the year. I told Mrs Harold Smith, and Miss Dunstable too, that we could manage to make room at any rate for them. But they will not leave the other ladies; so they go to the hotel for that night. But, Mr Robarts, the bishop will never allow you to stay at the inn, so of course you will take a bed at the palace.’
It immediately occurred to Mark that as the lecture was to be given on Saturdayevening, the next morning would be Sunday; and, on that Sunday, he would have to preach at Chaldicotes. ‘I thought they were all going to return the same night,’ said he.
‘Well, they did intend it; but you see Mrs Smith is afraid.’
‘I should have to get back here on the Sunday morning, Mrs Proudie.’
‘Ah, yes, that is bad – very bad, indeed. No one dislikes any interference with the Sabbathmore than I do. Indeed, if I am particular about anything it is about that. But some works are works of necessity, Mr Robarts; are they not? Now you must necessarily be back at Chaldicotes on Sunday morning!’ And so the matter was settled. Mrs Proudie was very firm in general in the matter of Sabbath-day observances; but when she had to deal with such persons as Mrs Harold Smith, it was expedientthat she should give way a little. ‘You can start as soon as it’s daylight, you know, if you like it, Mr Robarts,’ said Mrs Proudie.
There was not much to boast of as to the hunting, but it was a very pleasant day for the ladies. The men rode up and downthe grass roads through the chase, sometimes in the greatest possible hurry as though they never could go quick enough;
‘I am sure I am very much obliged to him.’
‘The fact is, that you may, if you please, make yourself popular in the county; but you cannot do itby obeying all Lady Lufton’s behests. She is a dear old woman, I am sure.’
‘She is, Sowerby; and you would say so, if you knew her.’
‘I don’t doubt it; but it would not do for you or me to live exactly according to her ideas. Now, here, in this case, the bishop of the diocese is to be one of the party, and he has, I believe, already expressed a wish that you should be another.’
‘He asked meif I were going.’
‘Exactly; and Archdeacon Grantly will be there.’
‘Will he?’ asked Mark. Now, that would be a great point gained, for Archdeacon Grantly was a close friend of Lady Lufton.
‘So I understand from Fothergill. Indeed, it will be very wrong of you not to go, and I tell you so plainly; and what is more, when you talk about your duty – you having a curate as you have – why, it isgammon.’ These last words he spoke looking back over his shoulder as he stood up in his stirrups, for he had caught the eye of the huntsman, who was surrounded by his hounds, and was now trotting on to join him.
During a great portion of the day, Mark found himself riding by the side of Mrs Proudie, as that lady leaned back in her carriage. And Mrs Proudie smiled on him graciously though herdaughter would not do so. Mrs Proudie was fond of having an attendant clergyman; and as it was evident that Mr Robarts lived amongnice people – titled dowagers, members of Parliament, and people of that sort – she was quite willing to install him as a sort of honorary chaplain
pro tern
.
‘I’ll tell you what we have settled, Mrs Harold Smith and I,’ said Mrs Proudie to him. ‘This lecture at Barchesterwill be so late on Saturday evening, that you had all better come and dine with us.’
Mark bowed and thanked her, and declared that he should be very happy to make one of such a party. Even Lady Lufton could not object to this, although she was not especially fond of Mrs Proudie.
‘And then they are to sleep at the hotel. It will really be too late for ladies to think of going back so far at thistime of the year. I told Mrs Harold Smith, and Miss Dunstable too, that we could manage to make room at any rate for them. But they will not leave the other ladies; so they go to the hotel for that night. But, Mr Robarts, the bishop will never allow you to stay at the inn, so of course you will take a bed at the palace.’
It immediately occurred to Mark that as the lecture was to be given on Saturdayevening, the next morning would be Sunday; and, on that Sunday, he would have to preach at Chaldicotes. ‘I thought they were all going to return the same night,’ said he.
‘Well, they did intend it; but you see Mrs Smith is afraid.’
‘I should have to get back here on the Sunday morning, Mrs Proudie.’
‘Ah, yes, that is bad – very bad, indeed. No one dislikes any interference with the Sabbathmore than I do. Indeed, if I am particular about anything it is about that. But some works are works of necessity, Mr Robarts; are they not? Now you must necessarily be back at Chaldicotes on Sunday morning!’ And so the matter was settled. Mrs Proudie was very firm in general in the matter of Sabbath-day observances; but when she had to deal with such persons as Mrs Harold Smith, it was expedientthat she should give way a little. ‘You can start as soon as it’s daylight, you know, if you like it, Mr Robarts,’ said Mrs Proudie.
There was not much to boast of as to the hunting, but it was a very pleasant day for the ladies. The men rode up and downthe grass roads through the chase, sometimes in the greatest possible hurry as though they never could go quick enough;
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