s
sit. The distance between them was safe and respectful. Bertram was
stretched upon the ground, with his eyes fixed, not upon her, but on
the city opposite; and she sat demurely on a rock, shading herself
with her parasol.

"I suppose nothing would induce you to marry a clergyman?" said he at
last.

"Why should you suppose that, Mr. Bertram?"

"At any rate, not the parson of a country parish. I am led to suppose
it by what you said to me yourself just now."

"I was speaking of you, and not of myself. I say that you have a
noble career open to you, and I do not look on the ordinary life of
a country parson as a noble career. For myself, I do not see any
nobility in store. I do not know that there is any fate more probable
for myself than that of becoming a respectable vicaress."

"And why may not a vicar's career be noble? Is it not as noble to
have to deal with the soul as with the body?"

"I judge by what I see. They are generally fond of eating, very
cautious about their money, untidy in their own houses, and apt to go
to sleep after dinner."

George turned upon the grass, and for a moment or two ceased to look
across into the city. He had not strength of character to laugh at
her description and yet to be unmoved by it. He must either resent
what she said, or laugh and be ruled by it. He must either tell her
that she knew nothing of a clergyman's dearest hopes, or else he must
yield to the contempt which her words implied.

"And could you love, honour, and obey such a man as that, yourself,
Miss Waddington?" he said at last.

"I suppose such men do have wives who love, honour, and obey them;
either who do or do not. I dare say I should do much the same as
others."

"You speak of my future, Miss Waddington, as though it were a subject
of interest; but you seem to think nothing of your own."

"It is useless for a woman to think of her future; she can do so
little towards planning it, or bringing about her plans. Besides, I
have no right to count on myself as anything out of the ordinary run
of women; I have taken no double-first degree in anything."

"A double-first is no sign of a true heart or true spirit. Many a man
born to grovel has taken a double-first."

"I don't perhaps know what you mean by grovelling, Mr. Bertram. I
don't like grovellers myself. I like men who can keep their heads
up--who, once having them above the water, will never allow them to
sink. Some men in every age do win distinct