human
And, said Caroline,
gpt
I shall not fail, _Deo volente_, said he.--
human
I have occupied the place on her right hand at these monster tea-drinkings for the last six years, he proceeded, turning to Miss Keeldar.
gpt
They made her a Sunday-school teacher when she was a little girl of twelve. She is not particularly self-confident by nature, as you may have observed; and the first time she had to 'take a tray,' as the phrase is, and make tea in public, there was some piteous trembling and flushing. I observed the speechless panic, the cups shaking in the little hand, and the overflowing teapot filled too full from the urn. I came to her aid, took a seat near her, managed the urn and the slop-basin, and in fact made the tea for her like any old woman.
human
I was very grateful to you,
gpt
You were. You told me so with an earnest sincerity that repaid me well, inasmuch as it was not like the majority of little ladies of twelve, whom you may help and caress for ever without their evincing any quicker sense of the kindness done and meant than if they were made of wax and wood instead of flesh and nerves.--She kept close to me, Miss Keeldar, the rest of the evening, walking with me over the grounds where the children were playing; she followed me into the vestry when all were summoned into church; she would, I believe, have mounted with me to the pulpit, had I not taken the previous precaution of conducting her to the rectory pew.
human
And he has been my friend ever since,
gpt
And always sat at her table, near her tray, and handed the cups--that is the extent of my services. The next thing I do for her will be to marry her some day to some curate or mill-owner.--But mind, Caroline, I shall inquire about the bridegroom's character; and if he is not a gentleman likely to render happy the little girl who walked with me hand in hand over Nunnely Common, I will not officiate. So take care.
human
The caution is useless. I am not going to be married. I shall live single, like your sister Margaret, Mr. Hall.
gpt
Very well. You might do worse. Margaret is not unhappy. She has her books for a pleasure, and her brother for a care, and is content. If ever you want a home, if the day should come when Briarfield rectory is yours no longer, come to Nunnely vicarage. Should the old maid and bachelor be still living, they will make you tenderly welcome.
human
There are your flowers. Now, said Caroline, who had kept the nosegay she had selected for him till this moment,
gpt
To be kept for the sake of the Rev. Cyril Hall, my friend. May --, 18--.
human
Caroline.
gpt
Now, said he, smiling,
human
I trust we are romantic enough. Miss Keeldar, he continued (the curates, by-the-bye, during this conversation, were too much occupied with their own jokes to notice what passed at the other end of the table),
gpt
I hope you are laughing at this trait of '_exaltation_' in the old gray-headed vicar; but the fact is, I am so used to comply with the requests of this young friend of yours, I don't know how to refuse her when she tells me to do anything. You would say it is not much in my way to traffic with flowers and forget-me-nots; but, you see, when requested to be sentimental, I am obedient.
human
He is naturally rather sentimental, remarked Caroline.
gpt
Margaret told me so, and I know what pleases him.
human
That you should be good and happy? Yes; that is one of my greatest pleasures. May God long preserve to you the blessings of peace and innocence! By which phrase I mean _comparative_ innocence; for in His sight, I am well aware, _none_ are pure. What to our human perceptions looks spotless as we fancy angels, is to Him but frailty, needing the blood of His Son to cleanse, and the strength of His Spirit to sustain. Let us each and all cherish humility--I, as you, my young friends; and we may well do it when we look into our own hearts, and see there temptations, inconsistencies, propensities, even we blush to recognize. And it is not youth, nor good looks, nor grace, nor any gentle outside charm which makes either beauty or goodness in God's eyes.--Young ladies, when your mirror or men's tongues flatter you, remember that, in the sight of her Maker, Mary Ann Ainley--a woman whom neither glass nor lips have ever panegyrized--is fairer and better than either of you. She is indeed, he added, after a pause--
gpt
Ahem! he began, clearing his throat evidently for a speech of some importance--
human
Well, said Shirley nonchalantly,
gpt
I hope part of you is hand also, returned Donne, in his vulgarly presumptuous and familiar style,
human
You should have gone to Mrs. Gill; she is my almoner.
gpt
To beg of you a subscription to a school. I and Dr. Boultby intend to erect one in the hamlet of Ecclefigg, which is under our vicarage of Whinbury. The Baptists have got possession of it. They have a chapel there, and we want to dispute the ground.
human
But I have nothing to do with Ecclefigg. I possess no property there.
gpt
What does that signify? You're a churchwoman, ain't you?
human
Admirable creature! muttered Shirley, under her breath.
gpt
Exquisite address! Fine style! What raptures he excites in me! Then aloud,
human
I am a churchwoman, certainly.
gpt
Then you can't refuse to contribute in this case. The population of Ecclefigg are a parcel of brutes; we want to civilize them.
human
Who is to be the missionary?
gpt
Myself, probably.
human
You won't fail through lack of sympathy with your flock.
gpt
I hope not--I expect success; but we must have money. There is the paper. Pray give a handsome sum.
human
At present I shall give no more,
gpt
Not give more! Why, I expected you to head the list with a cool hundred. With your property, you should never put down a signature for less.
human
In the south, went on Donne,
gpt
Strange remarks? said she--
human
Bounty! Do you call five pounds bounty?
gpt
I do; and bounty which, had I not given it to Dr. Boultby's intended school, of the erection of which I approve, and in no sort to his curate, who seems ill-advised in his manner of applying for, or rather extorting, subscriptions--bounty, I repeat, which, but for this consideration, I should instantly reclaim.
human
Wretched place this Yorkshire, he went on.
gpt
I could never have formed an idea_r_ of the country had I not seen it. And the people--rich and poor--what a set! How _corse_ and uncultivated! They would be scouted in the south.
human
The rich, pursued the infatuated and unconscious Donne,
gpt
--(you must excuse Mr. Donne's pronunciation, reader; it was very choice; he considered it genteel, and prided himself on his southern accent; northern ears received with singular sensations his utterance of certain words)--
human
There! you have reached the climax, said Shirley quietly.
gpt
You have reached the climax, she repeated, turning her glowing glance towards him.
human
You cannot go beyond it, and, she added with emphasis,
gpt
Walk through, she said austerely,
human
he imagined he was producing a crushing impression. Had he not expressed disdain of everything in Yorkshire? What more conclusive proof could be given that he was better than anything there? And yet here was he about to be turned like a dog out of a Yorkshire garden! Where, under such circumstances, was the
gpt
Rid me of you instantly--instantly!
human
Madam--a clergyman! turn out a clergyman!
gpt
Off! Were you an archbishop you have proved yourself no gentleman, and must go. Quick!