CHAPTER X. THE CHURCH

linedtothinkthemanwassincereinallhesaid:hemusthavechangedhisviews,andbecomedecidedlyreligious,gloomyandaustere,yetstilldevout.Butsuchillusionswereusuallydissipated,oncomingoutofchurch,byhearinghisvoiceinjocundcolloquywithsomeoftheMelthamsorGreens,or,perhaps,theMurraysthemselvesprobablylaughingathisownsermon,andhopingthathehadgiventherascallypeoplesomethingtothinkaboutperchance,exultinginthethoughtthatoldBettyHolmeswouldnowlayasidethesinfulindulgenceofherpipe,whichhadbeenherdailysolaceforupwardsofthirtyyears:thatGeorgeHigginswouldbefrightenedoutofhisSabbatheveningwalks,andThomasJacksonwouldbesorelytroubledinhisconscience,andshakeninhissureandcertainhopeofajoyfulresurrectionatthelastday. Thus,IcouldnotbutconcludethatMr.Hatfieldwasoneofthosewho“bindheavyburdens,andgrievoustobeborne,andlaythemuponmen’sshoulders,whiletheythemselveswillnotmovethemwithoneoftheirfingers”andwho“makethewordofGodofnoneeffectbytheirtraditions,teachingfordoctrinesthecommandmentsofmen.”Iwaswellpleasedtoobservethatthenewcurateresembledhim,asfarasIcouldsee,innoneoftheseparticulars. “Well,MissGrey,whatdoyouthinkofhimnow?”saidMissMurray,aswetookourplacesinthecarriageafterservice. “Noharmstill,”repliedI. “Noharm!”repeatedsheinamazement.“Whatdoyoumean?” “Imean,IthinknoworseofhimthanIdidbefore.” “Noworse!Ishouldthinknotindeed—quitethecontrary!Ishenotgreatlyimproved?” “Oh,yesverymuchindeed,”repliedIforIhadnowdiscoveredthatitwasHarryMelthamshemeant,notMr.Weston.Thatgentlemanhadeagerlycomeforwardtospeaktotheyoungladies:athinghewouldhardlyhaveventuredtodohadtheirmotherbeenpresenthehadlikewisepolitelyhandedthemintothecarriage.Hehadnotattemptedtoshutmeout,likeMr.Hat