CHAPTER VI. THE PARSONAGE AGAIN

milesfromhomeinallthecourseofmytwentyyears’sojournonearthandas,moreover,everyindividualinthatfamilyandintheneighbourhoodwasutterlyunknowntomyselfandallmyacquaintances.Butthisrendereditonlythemorepiquanttome.Ihadnow,insomemeasure,gotridofthemauvaisehontethathadformerlyoppressedmesomuchtherewasapleasingexcitementintheideaofenteringtheseunknownregions,andmakingmywayaloneamongitsstrangeinhabitants.InowflatteredmyselfIwasgoingtoseesomethingintheworld:Mr.Murray’sresidencewasnearalargetown,andnotinamanufacturingdistrict,wherethepeoplehadnothingtodobuttomakemoneyhisrankfromwhatIcouldgather,appearedtobehigherthanthatofMr.Bloomfieldand,doubtless,hewasoneofthosegenuinethoroughbredgentrymymotherspokeof,whowouldtreathisgovernesswithdueconsiderationasarespectablewell-educatedlady,theinstructorandguideofhischildren,andnotamereupperservant.Then,mypupilsbeingolder,wouldbemorerational,moreteachable,andlesstroublesomethanthelasttheywouldbelessconfinedtotheschoolroom,andnotrequirethatconstantlabourandincessantwatchingand,finally,brightvisionsmingledwithmyhopes,withwhichthecareofchildrenandthemeredutiesofagovernesshadlittleornothingtodo.Thus,thereaderwillseethatIhadnoclaimtoberegardedasamartyrtofilialpiety,goingforthtosacrificepeaceandlibertyforthesolepurposeoflayingupstoresforthecomfortandsupportofmyparents:thoughcertainlythecomfortofmyfather,andthefuturesupportofmymother,hadalargeshareinmycalculationsandfiftypoundsappearedtomenoordinarysum.ImusthavedecentclothesbecomingmystationImust,itseemed,putoutmywashing,andalsopayformyfourannualjourneysbetweenHortonLodgeandhomebutwithstrictattentiontoeconomy,surelytwentypounds,orlittlemore,wouldcoverthoseexpenses,andthentherewouldbethirtyforthebank,orlittleless:whatavaluableadditiontoourstock!Oh,Imuststruggletokeepthissituation,whateveritmightbe!bothformyownhonouramongmyfriendsandforthesolidservicesImightrenderthembymycontinuancethere.