s that
he has certainly grown an inch since that occurrence."

This was certainly very good-natured on the part of Mr. Sowerby, and
showed that he had a feeling within his bosom that he owed something
to his friend the parson for the injury he had done him. And such
was in truth the case. A more reckless being than the member for
West Barsetshire could not exist. He was reckless for himself, and
reckless for all others with whom he might be concerned. He could
ruin his friends with as little remorse as he had ruined himself. All
was fair game that came in the way of his net. But, nevertheless,
he was good-natured, and willing to move heaven and earth to do a
friend a good turn, if it came in his way to do so. He did really
love Mark Robarts as much as it was given him to love any among
his acquaintance. He knew that he had already done him an almost
irreparable injury, and might very probably injure him still deeper
before he had done with him. That he would undoubtedly do so, if it
came in his way, was very certain. But then, if it also came in his
way to repay his friend by any side blow, he would also undoubtedly
do that. Such an occasion had now come, and he had desired his sister
to give the new Lord Petty Bag no rest till he should have promised
to use all his influence in getting the vacant prebend for Mark
Robarts.

This letter of Sowerby's Mark immediately showed to his wife. How
lucky, thought he to himself, that not a word was said in it about
those accursed money transactions! Had he understood Sowerby better
he would have known that that gentleman never said anything about
money transactions until it became absolutely necessary. "I know you
don't like Mr. Sowerby," he said; "but you must own that this is very
good-natured."

"It is the character I hear of him that I don't like," said Mrs.
Robarts.

"But what shall I do now, Fanny? As he says, why should not I have
the stall as well as another?"

"I suppose it would not interfere with your parish?" she asked.

"Not in the least, at the distance at which we are. I did think of
giving up old Jones; but if I take this, of course I must keep a
curate." His wife could not find it in her heart to dissuade him from
accepting promotion when it came in his way--what vicar's wife would
have so persuaded her husband? But yet she did not altogether like
it. She feared that Greek from Chaldicotes, even when he came with
the present of a prebendal stall in his ha