Scenes of Clerical Life

, while the Rev. Amos Barton, and his wife are audibly crushing the crisp snow beneath their feet, as, about seven o'clock on Friday evening, they approach the d

is seated in the arm-chair opposite, with a newspaper over his knees, is becoming decidedly grey. A little 'King Charles', with a crimson ribbon round his neck, who has been lying curled up in the very middle of the hearth-rug, has just discovered t

Barton are ushered in-Mr. Barton erect and clerical, in a faultless ti

ed of my selfishness in asking my friends to come and see me in this frightful weather.' Then, giving her hand to Amos, 'And you, Mr. Barton, who

actors who had no idea of by-play. Mr. Bridmain, a stiff and rather thick-set man, gave his welcom

oman's weakness-she was fond of dress; and often, when she was making up her own economical millinery, she had romantic visions how nice it would be to put on really handsome stylish things-to have very stiff balloon sleeves, for example, without which a woman's dress was nought in those days. You and I, too, reader, have our weakness, have we not? which makes us think foolish things now and then. Perhaps it may lie in an excessive admiration for small hands and feet, a tall

ndship: it is not easy to her to speak of the affection of which her heart is full. The lithe, dar

waiting for an answer. 'I have been kept in-doors by a cold ever since Sunday, or I should no

d. I had given orders that they should not sing the wedding psalm, as they call it, again, to make a new-married couple look ridiculous, and they sang it in d

ou are too patient and forbearing, Mr. Barton. For my part, I lose my temper w

o the insinuated compliment, it was a relief to him that dinner was

ing Mrs. Barton to the d

her is ve

deed,' sa

n this respect; as a personal question, inquiring how it affected his lady interlocutor in particular; and as a question of probabilities, discussing whether there would be a change or a continuance of the present atmos

tween her spoonfuls of soup. (The soup was a little over-spiced. Mrs. Short of Camp Villa,

ral place, and there are many convenienc

I cannot admire him. His preaching is too cold for me. It has no fervour-no heart. I often say to my broth

bad pew at Milby-just where there is a draught from that

e on such matters. She is most anxious that when Sir William has an opportunity of giving away the living at their place, Dippley, they should have a thoroughly zealous clever man there.

oment John, the man-servant, approached Mrs. Barton with a gravy-tureen, and also with a slight odour of the stable, which usually adhered to him through his in-door functions

ly abstaining from approaching the gravy-sprinkled spot on the floor with her own lilac silk. But Mr. Bridmain, who ha

er for the sake of John as well as others. The Countess felt inwardly thankful that her ow

much seen; 'you don't mind about these things, I know. Just the same sort of thing happened to me at the Princess Wengstein's one day, on a pink sati

of supplementary rubbing, composure was restored, and the business of dining was continued. When John was recounting his accident to the cook in the kitchen, he observed, 'M

sponded the unsympathetic cook, to whom John did not make love. 'Who d'y

u should wet the bottom of the dure

she probably regarded in the light of a reductio ad

as he was wont to encourage himself with in rubbing down Mr. Bridmain's horse, the Rev. Amos Barton drew from his pocket a thin green-covered pamphlet, and, present

s such depth in it!-such argument! It was not a sermon to be heard only once. I am delight

she drew out her little pocket-book, where she carefully treasured the editori

tter to the Countess, 'I am very p

hed to a congregation not one of whom had any doubt of that doctrine, and to whom the Socinians therein confuted

; it would be so desirable to have them in that shape. For instance, I could send a copy to the Dean of Radborough. And there is Lord Blarney, whom I knew before he was chancellor. I was a special favourite of his,

, as not accordant with his ideas of wisdom and veracity, I cannot say; but at this moment he jumped off her lap, and, turning his back up

The Rev. Amos was very fond of chess, as most people are who can continue through many years to create interesting vicissitudes in

d be impertinent for us to listen to; so we will leave Camp Villa, and proceed to Milby Vicarage, where Mr. Farquhar has sat out two o

occasional visit to the metropolis; and by his brother clergy he was regarded as a discreet and agreeable fellow. Mr. Ely never got into a warm discussion; he suggested what might be thought, but rarely said what he thought himself; he never let either men or women see th

ionable son-in-law, in spite of his being of no particular 'family'. Mr. Farquhar was susceptible on the point of 'blood'-h

ou were gone the other evening, Mithith Farquhar wath telling him the general opinion about them in the neighbourhood, and he got quite red and angry. Bleth your thoul, he believth

nement. Perhaps the lady flatters him a little, and we men are susceptible. She goes to

e'th tired of her brother Bridmain, and looking out for another brother with a thtronger family likeneth. Mithith Farquhar ith very fond of Mithith Barton, and ith quite dithtrethed that she should athothiate with th

o Mr. Farquhar he said, 'Barton might be more judicious, it must be con

come here, unleth they had particular reathonth for preferring a neighbourhood where they are not

eems knowing about the king of the French. The Countess is certainly a handsome woman, but she puts on the grand air a little too powerfully. Woodcock was immensely taken w

th heart for a pretty fathe. It'th odd how he came

sion,' said Mr. Ely. 'I am n

tion particularly brilliant under the stimulus of Mr. Ely's exceptional presence,

est chair, set his feet on the hobs, and in this attitude