The Vicar's Daughter by George MacDonald

Author:George MacDonald
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

— Twenty-Four —

The End of the Evening

What specially delighted me during the evening, was the marked attention, and the serious look in the eyes, with which Roger listened. It was not often that he did look serious. He preferred, if possible, to get a joke out of a thing, but when he did enter into a discussion, he was always fair. Although prone to take the side of objection to any religious remark, he yet never said anything against religion itself. But his principles, and indeed his nature, seemed as yet in a state of solution—uncrystallised, as my father would say.

Mr. Morley, on the other hand, seemed an insoluble mass, incapable of receiving impressions from other minds. Any suggestion of his own mind, as to a course of action or a mode of thinking, he received without question as reasonable and right. He was completely prejudiced in his own favour.

The day after they thus met at our house, Miss Clare had a letter from him, in which he took the high hand with her, rebuking her solemnly for her presumption in saying, as he represented it, that no good could be done except after the fashion she laid down, and assuring her that she would thus alienate the most valuable assistance from any scheme she might cherish concerning the condition of the lower classes. It ended with the offer of a yearly subscription of five pounds to any project of the wisdom of which she would take the trouble to convince him. She replied, thanking him both, for his advice and his offer, but saying that she had no scheme on foot requiring such assistance.

When the ladies rose, Judy took me aside, and said—

“You asked us, to have a triumph over me, you naughty thing!”

“Well—partly—if I am to be honest. But far more to make you do justice to Miss Clare. You being my cousin, she had a right to that at my hands.”

“Does Lady Bernard know as much about her as she seems?”

“She knows everything about her, and visits her, too, in her very questionable abode. You see, Judy, a report may be a fact, and yet be untrue.”

“I’m not going to be lectured by a chit like you. But I should like to have a little talk with Miss Clare.”

“I will make you an opportunity.”

I did so, and could not help overhearing a very pretty apology, to which Miss Clare replied that she feared she only was to blame, saying that she ought to have explained the peculiarity of her circumstances before accepting the engagement. At the time, it had not appeared to her necessary, she said, but now she would make a point of explaining before she accepted any such invitation again, thinking it would be fairer to both parties. It was no wonder such an answer should entirely disarm cousin Judy, who then begged her to resume her lessons with the children.

“But I understand from Mrs. Percivale,” said Miss Clare, “that the position is filled to your satisfaction.

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