CHAPTER VI. THE PARSONAGE AGAIN

ForafewmonthsIremainedpeaceablyathome,inthequietenjoymentoflibertyandrest,andgenuinefriendship,fromallofwhichIhadfastedsolongandintheearnestprosecutionofmystudies,torecoverwhatIhadlostduringmystayatWellwoodHouse,andtolayinnewstoresforfutureuse.Myfather’shealthwasstillveryinfirm,butnotmateriallyworsethanwhenIlastsawhimandIwasgladIhaditinmypowertocheerhimbymyreturn,andtoamusehimwithsinginghisfavouritesongs. Noonetriumphedovermyfailure,orsaidIhadbetterhavetakenhisorheradvice,andquietlystayedathome.Allweregladtohavemebackagain,andlavishedmorekindnessthaneveruponme,tomakeupforthesufferingsIhadundergonebutnotonewouldtouchashillingofwhatIhadsocheerfullyearnedandsocarefullysaved,inthehopeofsharingitwiththem.Bydintofpinchinghere,andscrapingthere,ourdebtswerealreadynearlypaid.Maryhadhadgoodsuccesswithherdrawingsbutourfatherhadinsisteduponherlikewisekeepingalltheproduceofherindustrytoherself.Allwecouldsparefromthesupplyofourhumblewardrobeandourlittlecasualexpenses,hedirectedustoputintothesavings’-banksaying,weknewnothowsoonwemightbedependentonthataloneforsupport:forhefelthehadnotlongtobewithus,andwhatwouldbecomeofourmotheranduswhenhewasgone,Godonlyknew! Dearpapa!ifhehadtroubledhimselflessabouttheafflictionsthatthreatenedusincaseofhisdeath,Iamconvincedthatdreadedeventwouldnothavetakenplacesosoon.Mymotherwouldneversufferhimtoponderonthesubjectifshecouldhelpit. “Oh,Richard!”exclaimedshe,ononeoccasion,“ifyouwouldbutdismisssuchgloomysubjectsfromyourmind,youwouldliveaslongasanyofusatleastyouwouldlivetoseethegirlsmarried,andyourselfahappygrandfather,withacantyolddameforyourcompanion.” Mymotherlaughed,andsodidmyfather:buthislaughsoonperishedinadrearysigh. “Theymarried—poorpennilessthings!”saidhe“whowilltakethemIwonder!” “Why,nobodyshallthatisn’tthankfulforthem.Wasn’tIpennilesswhenyoutookme?andyoupretended,atleast,tobevastlypleasedwithyouracquisiti