Framley Parsonage

that he had a son blessed with an excellent disposition. This father was a physician living at Exeter. He was a gentleman possessed of no private means

his narrative must be consumed in giving a catalogue of the good things

ile they were both so placed, Lady Lufton had visited her son, and then invited young Robarts to pass his next holidays at Framley Court. This visit was made; and it ended in Mark going back to Exeter with a letter full of praise from the widowed peeress. She had been delighted, she said, in having such a companion for her son, and expressed a h

r in the highly respectable manner in which he lived, than in any wonderful career of collegiate success. His family was proud of him, and the doctor was always ready to talk of him to his patients; not because he was a prize-man, and had gotten a scholarship, but on account of the excellence of his general conduct. He lived with the best set - he incurred no debts - he was fond of society, but able to avoid low society

he heir consented to give a joint promise to Dr Robarts. Now, as the present incumbent was over seventy, and as the living was worth 900 pounds a year, there could be no doubt as to the eligibility of the clerical profession. And I must further say, that the dowager and the doctor were justified in their choice by the life and principles of the young man

in the same direction. She was very desirous that her son should make an associate of his clergyman, and by this step she would ensure, at any rate, that. She was anxious that the parish vicar should be one with whom she could herself fully co-operate, and was perhaps unconsciously wishful that h

s father desired; he then travelled for eight or ten months with Lord Lufton

difficult to get him a curacy within it. But this curacy he was not allowed long to fill. He had not been in it above a twelvemonth, when p

sh parson without a wife. So, having given to her favourite a position in the world, and an income sufficient for a gentleman's wants, she set herself to work to find him a partner in those blessings. And here also, as in other matters, he fell in with the views of his patroness - not, however, that they were declared to him in th

ss, a love of laughter without malice, and a true loving heart, can qualify a woman to be a parson's wife, then Fanny Monsell qualified to fill that station. In person she was somewhat larger than common. Her face would have been beautiful but that her mouth was large. Her hair, which was copious, was of a bright brown; her eyes also were brown, and, being so, were the distinctive feature of her face, for brown eyes are not common. They were liquid, large, and full either of tenderness or of mirth. Mark Robarts still had his accustomed luck, when such a girl as this was brought to Framley for his wooing. And he did woo her - and

ng meditative over his parlour fire, looking back, as men will look back on the upshot of their life, was we

or good - and aptitude also for evil, quite enough; quite enough to make it needful that he should repel temptations as temptation only can be repelled. Much had been done to spoil him, but in the ordinary acceptation of the word he was not spoiled. He had too much tact, too much common sense, to believe himself to be the paragon which his mother thought him. Self-conceit was not, perhaps, his greatest danger. Had he poss

bin, the dean's wife, was of the party, though the distance from Barchester to Framley is long, and the roads deep, and no railway lends its assistance. And Lord Lufton was there of course; and people protested that he would surely fall in love with one of the four beautiful bridesmaids, of whom Blanche Robarts, the vicar's second sister, was by common acknowledgement by far the most beautiful. And there was there another and a younger sister of Mark's - who did not officiate at the ceremony, though she was present - and of whom no prediction was made, seeing that she was then only sixteen,

e, previously to his dressing for dinner. It was a November evening, and he had been out all day, and on such occasions the aptitude for delay in dre

y Lufton was

ions in favour o

ly so,

you say about

you thought, or that I thought you thought, that one o

dyship did

y that;- though I think t

she has a point to carry, she

school she is thinking more of her pr

oth silent. And the vicar having thoroughly warmed himself, as far as this m

nty minutes past six.

ave her way about Sarah Thompson. You

give way, if I thought it wr

nly have to yield the next; and then th

it's wro

me infinitesimal degree, one must put up with it. Sarah Thompson

remedy. Why should he, the vicar, consent to receive an incompetent teacher for the parish children, when he was able to procure one that was competent? In such a case - so thought Mrs Robarts to her

is. I know I had only to explain;'- and then she plumed her feathers, and was very gracious; for to

her kindest manner, 'you are not go

think

rmined not to invite the Robartses if she were not allowed to have her own way about Sarah Thompson. But such would have been the result. As it was, however, she was all kindness; and when Mrs Robarts made some little excuse, saying that she was afraid she must return home in the evening, because of the children, Lady Lufton declared that there wa

t Framley on Saturday and Sunday; and I have prom

! Goodness graciou

nd it. And Justinia would think

of course will go. But a

why,

was brought to me from Chaldicotes. Sowerby insists on my go

icotes for a

ve even consent

away two

y one. Don't be

t I am so sorry. It is just what Lady Lufton won't like.

nny. And that is

Lady Lufton does not like those Chaldicotes people. You know Lord Luft

; Harold Smith and his wife will be there, and I am very anxious to know more of them. I have no doubt that

do you want of

want nothing; neither in once sense do I; but,

ot be back b

at Barchester, about the Australasian archipelago, and I am to preach a c

sermon at C

uite full, you know! And I dare s

th, though I doubt that; but I'm sure she's not fond of Mr S

l probably be there

sure of meeting Mrs Proudie is taking you to

ife was hard upon him. 'But it is generally thought that a parish clergyman does well to meet his bishop now and then. And as I was invited there, especially t

Lufton?' his wife said to hi

you find I had promised to preach at Cha

nnoyed. You were away the la

t down against Sarah Thompson. She

s you call it, about Sarah Thompson. That was a

shall have it. It's a pity that there

er that she should say nothing further; and before she went to b