FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140  
141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>   >|  
. He always went with his hands in his pockets, walking quick, but shuffling sometimes in step as though with hesitation, stooping somewhat, absent occasionally, going about with his chin stuck out before him, as though he were seeking something,--he knew not what. A more generous fellow, who delighted more in giving, hesitated more in asking, more averse to begging though a friend of beggars, less self-arrogant, or self-seeking, or more devoted to his profession, never lived. He was a man with prejudices,--kindly, gentlemanlike, amiable prejudices. He thought that a clergyman should be a graduate from one of the three universities,--including Trinity, Dublin; and he thought, also, that a clergyman should be a gentleman. He thought that Dissenters were,--a great mistake. He thought that Convocation should be potential. He thought that the Church had certain powers and privileges which Parliament could not take away except by spoliation. He thought that a parson should always be well-dressed,--according to his order. He thought that the bishop of his diocese was the purest, best, and noblest peer in England. He thought that Newton Churchyard was, of all spots on earth, the most lovely. He thought very little of himself. And he thought that of all the delights given by God for the delectation of his creatures, the love of Clarissa Underwood would be the most delightful. In all these thinkings he was astray, carried away by prejudices which he was not strong enough to withstand. But the joint effect of so many faults in judgment was not disagreeable; and, as one result of that effect, Gregory Newton was loved and respected and believed in by all men and women, poor and rich, who lived within knowledge of his name. His uncle Gregory, who was wont to be severe in his judgment on men, would declare that the Rev. Gregory,--as he was called,--was perfect. But then the Squire was a man who was himself very much subject to prejudices. There was now, and ever had been, great freedom of discussion between Ralph Newton of the Priory and his cousin Gregory,--if under the circumstances the two young men may be called cousins,--respecting the affairs of the property. There was naturally much to check or to prevent such freedom. Their own interests in regard to the property were, as far as they went, adverse. The young parson might possibly inherit the whole of the estate, whereas he was aware that the present Squire would move heaven
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140  
141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
thought
 

prejudices

 

Gregory

 

Newton

 

called

 
parson
 
clergyman
 

freedom

 
effect
 

Squire


seeking

 

property

 
judgment
 

knowledge

 
disagreeable
 

thinkings

 
astray
 
carried
 

strong

 

Clarissa


Underwood

 

delightful

 

withstand

 

respected

 

believed

 

result

 

faults

 

regard

 

adverse

 

interests


prevent

 
present
 

heaven

 

estate

 

possibly

 
inherit
 

naturally

 
affairs
 

discussion

 
subject

severe
 

declare

 
perfect
 
cousins
 

respecting

 

circumstances

 
Priory
 

cousin

 
purest
 

giving