Paul Faber, Surgeon
d helped his wife out of the carriage. Then they parted, she to take her gif
er claims were undisputed in Glaston. There was a propriety, springing from quite another source, however, in the rector's turning his footsteps first toward the Manor House, where she resided. For his curate, whom his business in Glaston that Saturday concerned, had, some nine or ten months before, married Mrs. Ramshorn's niece, Helen Lingard by name, who for many years had lived with her aunt, adding, if not to the comforts of the housekeeping, for Mrs. Ramshorn was plentifully enough provided
had cured him. He was aware that at times he took a few glasses of port more than he would have judged it proper to carry to the pulpit or the communion table, for those he counted the presence of his Maker; but there was a time for every thing. He was conscious to himself, I repeat, of nothing to cause him shame, and in the tramp of his boots there was certainly no self-abasement. It was true he performed next to none of the duties of the rectorship-but then neither did he turn any of its income to his own uses; part he paid his curate, and the rest he laid out on the church, which might easily have consumed six times the amount in desirable, if not absolutely needful repairs. What furthe
did, two interpretations were possible-one good, and one bad, there was no room for a doubt as to which she would adopt and publish. Not even to herself, howe
half parish-clerk, opened the door; and seeing the rector, drew it wide to the wall, inviting him to step into the library, as he had no doubt Mrs. Ramshorn would be at home to him. Nor
e spoken. It may be difficult to keep such men out of holy orders, but if ever the benefices of the church come to be freely bestowed upon them, that moment the death-bell of religion is rung in England. My late hu
man as you describe could have captivat
rn. "A lady born and bred must make the discovery before a week is over. But poor Helen a
ust go for little indeed, if nothing less than marriage
connect with the family, she told me she had never thought of inquiring. I pressed it upon her as a duty she owed to society; she told me she was content with the man himself, and was not going to ask him about his family. Sh
was only fifty-seven!-"have had our turn, and thei
eally you must do something, Mr. Bevis. Things have arrived at such a pass that, I give you my word, reflecti
l hear him preach
m warning of your intention: he is so cleve
estimate of his own abilities, but he did
earing of your arrival. Anyhow I would not have you trust to one sermon. He will say just the opposite the next.
vocate the real presence: a rumor of
ny other meal to which some said a grace. The man has not an atom of consistency in his nature. He will say and unsay as fast as one sentence
id the rector. "The straightforward
Otherwise, he will certainly prove you in the wrong. Don't take my word. Get the opinion of your church-wardens. Every b
riends. No more did he make the observation, that, while his enemies differed in the things they said against him, his friends agreed in those they said for him; the fact being, that those who did as he roused their conscience to see they ought, more or less understood the man and his aims; while those who would not submit to the authority he brought to bear upon them, and yet tried to measure and explain him after the standards of their own being and endeavors, failed ludicrously. The church-wardens told him that