CHAPTER X. THE CHURCH

nallyadding,“andIthoughtitsomewhatderogatorytohisdignityasaclergymantocomeflyingfromthepulpitinsucheagerhastetoshakehandswiththesquire,andhandhiswifeanddaughtersintotheircarriage:and,moreover,Iowehimagrudgefornearlyshuttingmeoutofit”for,infact,thoughIwasstandingbeforehisface,closebesidethecarriagesteps,waitingtogetin,hewouldpersistinputtingthemupandclosingthedoor,tilloneofthefamilystoppedhimbycallingoutthatthegovernesswasnotinyetthen,withoutawordofapology,hedeparted,wishingthemgood-morning,andleavingthefootmantofinishthebusiness. Notabene.—Mr.Hatfieldneverspoketome,neitherdidSirHughorLadyMeltham,norMr.HarryorMissMeltham,norMr.Greenorhissisters,noranyotherladyorgentlemanwhofrequentedthatchurch:nor,infact,anyonethatvisitedatHortonLodge. MissMurrayorderedthecarriageagain,intheafternoon,forherselfandhersister:shesaiditwastoocoldforthemtoenjoythemselvesinthegardenandbesides,shebelievedHarryMelthamwouldbeatchurch.“For,”saidshe,smilingslylyatherownfairimageintheglass,“hehasbeenamostexemplaryattendantatchurchtheselastfewSundays:youwouldthinkhewasquiteagoodChristian.Andyoumaygowithus,MissGrey:Iwantyoutoseehimheissogreatlyimprovedsincehereturnedfromabroad—youcan’tthink!Andbesides,thenyouwillhaveanopportunityofseeingthebeautifulMr.Westonagain,andofhearinghimpreach.” Ididhearhimpreach,andwasdecidedlypleasedwiththeevangelicaltruthofhisdoctrine,aswellastheearnestsimplicityofhismanner,andtheclearnessandforceofhisstyle.Itwastrulyrefreshingtohearsuchasermon,afterbeingsolongaccustomedtothedry,prosydiscoursesoftheformercurate,andthestilllessedifyingharanguesoftherector.Mr.Hatfieldwouldcomesailinguptheaisle,orrathersweepingalonglikeawhirlwind,with