CHAPTER VI. THE PARSONAGE AGAIN

on.Butit’snomatterwhethertheygetmarriedornot:wecandeviseathousandhonestwaysofmakingalivelihood.AndIwonder,Richard,youcanthinkofbotheringyourheadaboutourpovertyincaseofyourdeathasifthatwouldbeanythingcomparedwiththecalamityoflosingyou—anafflictionthatyouwellknowwouldswallowupallothers,andwhichyououghttodoyourutmosttopreserveusfrom:andthereisnothinglikeacheerfulmindforkeepingthebodyinhealth.” “Iknow,Alice,itiswrongtokeeprepiningasIdo,butIcannothelpit:youmustbearwithme.” “Iwon’tbearwithyou,ifIcanalteryou,”repliedmymother:buttheharshnessofherwordswasundonebytheearnestaffectionofhertoneandpleasantsmile,thatmademyfathersmileagain,lesssadlyandlesstransientlythanwashiswont. “Mamma,”saidI,assoonasIcouldfindanopportunityofspeakingwithheralone,“mymoneyisbutlittle,andcannotlastlongifIcouldincreaseit,itwouldlessenpapa’sanxiety,ononesubjectatleast.IcannotdrawlikeMary,andsothebestthingIcoulddowouldbetolookoutforanothersituation.” “Andsoyouwouldactuallytryagain,Agnes?” “Decidedly,Iwould.” “Why,mydear,Ishouldhavethoughtyouhadhadenoughofit.” “Iknow,”saidI,“everybodyisnotlikeMr.andMrs.Bloomfield—” “Someareworse,”interruptedmymother. “Butnotmany,Ithink,”repliedI,“andI’msureallchildrenarenotliketheirsforIandMarywerenot:wealwaysdidasyoubidus,didn’twe?” “Generally:butthen,Ididnotspoilyouandyouwerenotperfectangelsafterall:Maryhadafundofquietobstinacy,andyouweresomewhatfaultyinregardtotemperbutyouwereverygoodchildrenonthewhole.” “IknowIwassulkysometimes,andIshouldhavebeengladtoseethesechildrensulkysometimestooforthenIcouldhaveunderstoodthem:buttheyneverwere,fortheycouldnotbeoffended,norhurt,norashamed:theycouldnotbeunhappyinanyway,exceptwhentheywereinapassion.” “Well,iftheycouldnot,itwasnottheirfault:youcannotexpectstonetobeaspliableasclay.” “No,butstillitisveryunpleasanttolivewithsuchunimpressible,incomprehensiblecrea