As for Mr Wentworth, he who was a priest, and knew more about Carlingford than any other man in the place, could not help thinking, as he turned back, of people there, to whom these six months had produced alterations far more terrible than any that had befallen the Rector's wife:—people from whom the light of life had died out, and to whom all the world was changed. He knew of men who had been cheerful enough when Mr Morgan came to Carlingford, who now did not care what became of them; and of women who would be glad to lay down their heads and hide them from the mocking light of day. He knew it, and it touched his heart with the tenderest pity of life, the compassion of happiness; and he knew too that the path upon which he was about to set out led through the same glooms, and was no ideal career. But perhaps because Mr Wentworth was young—perhaps because he was possessed by that delicate sprite more dainty than any Ariel who puts rosy girdles round the world while his time of triumph lasts—it is certain that the new Rector of Carlingford turned back into Grange Lane without the least shadow upon his mind or timidity in his thoughts. He was now in his own domains, an independent monarch, as little inclined to divide his power as any autocrat; and Mr Wentworth came into his kingdom without any doubts of his success in it, or of his capability for its government. He had first a little journey to make to bring back Lucy from that temporary and reluctant separation from the district which propriety had made needful; but, in the mean time, Mr Wentworth trode with firm foot the streets of his parish, secure that no parson nor priest should tithe or toll in his dominions, and a great deal more sure than even Mr Morgan had been, that henceforth no unauthorised evangelisation should take place in any portion of his territory. This sentiment, perhaps, was the principal difference perceptible by the community in general between the new Rector of Carlingford and the late Perpetual Curate of St Roque's.
Footnotes
[1] She was the daughter of old Sir Jasper Shelton, a poor family, but very respectable, and connected with the Westerns.
|
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Contemporary spellings have been retained even
when inconsistent. A small number of obvious typographical errors have been
corrected and missing punctuation has been silently added. |
|
| news with which her heart was beating were | news with which her heart was beating was |
| neither here not there | neither here nor there |
| the trouble which has overtaken his brother | the trouble which had overtaken his brother |
| wiled the night away | whiled the night away |
| his handkerchief to this eyes | his handkerchief to his eyes |
| Notwithstanding, that fact is, that | Notwithstanding, the fact is, that |
| than ever come out of mortal loom | than ever came out of mortal loom |
| keep on Thompson; (…) for Thomson… | keep on Thompson; (…) for Thompson… |