CHAPTER III. MR. YORKE.

Cheerfulness,itwouldappear,isamatterwhichdependsfullyasmuchonthestateofthingswithinasonthestateofthingswithoutandaroundus.Imakethistriteremark,becauseIhappentoknowthatMessrs.HelstoneandMooretrottedforthfromthemill-yardgates,attheheadoftheirverysmallcompany,inthebestpossiblespirits.Whenarayfromalantern(thethreepedestriansofthepartycarriedeachone)fellonMr.Moore'sface,youcouldseeanunusual,becausealively,sparkdancinginhiseyes,andanew-foundvivacitymantlingonhisdarkphysiognomyandwhentherector'svisagewasilluminated,hishardfeatureswererevealedallagrinandashinewithglee.Yetadrizzlingnight,asomewhatperilousexpedition,youwouldthinkwerenotcircumstancescalculatedtoenliventhoseexposedtothewetandengagedintheadventure.IfanymemberormembersofthecrewwhohadbeenatworkonStilbro'Moorhadcaughtaviewofthisparty,theywouldhavehadgreatpleasureinshootingeitheroftheleadersfrombehindawall:andtheleadersknewthisandthefactis,beingbothmenofsteelynervesandsteady-beatinghearts,wereelatewiththeknowledge. Iamaware,reader,andyouneednotremindme,thatitisadreadfulthingforaparsontobewarlikeIamawarethatheshouldbeamanofpeace.Ihavesomefaintoutlineofanideaofwhataclergyman'smissionisamongstmankind,andIrememberdistinctlywhoseservantheis,whosemessagehedelivers,whoseexampleheshouldfollowyet,withallthis,ifyouareaparson-hater,youneednotexpectmetogoalongwithyoueverystepofyourdismal,downward-tending,unchristianroadyouneednotexpectmetojoininyourdeepanathemas,atoncesonarrowandsosweeping,inyourpoisonousrancour,sointenseandsoabsurd,against"thecloth"toliftupmyeyesandhandswithaSupplehough,ortoinflatemylungswithaBarraclough,inhorroranddenunciationofthediabolicalrectorofBriarfield. Hewasnotdiabolicalatall.Theevilsimplywas—hehadmissedhisvocation.Heshouldhavebeenasoldier,andcircumstanceshadmadehimapriest.Fortherest,hewasaconscientious,hard-headed,hard-handed,brave,stern,implacable,faithfullittlemanamanalmostwithoutsympathy,ungentle,prejudiced,andrigid,butamantruetoprinciple,honourable,sagacious,andsincere.Itseemstome,reader,thatyoucannotalwayscutoutmentofittheirprofession,andthatyououghtnottocursethembecausetheirprofessionsometimeshangsonthemungracefully.NorwillIcurseHelstone,clericalCossackashewas.Yethewascursed,andbymanyofhisownparishioners,asbyothershewasadored—whichisthefrequentfateofmenwhoshowpartialityinfriendshipandbitternessinenmity,whoareequallyattachedtoprinciplesandadherenttoprejudices. HelstoneandMoorebeingbothinexcellentspirits,andunitedforthepresentinonecause,youwouldexpectthat,astheyrodesidebyside,theywouldconverseamicably.Ohno!Thesetwomen,ofhard,biliousnaturesboth,rarelycameintocontactbuttheychafedeachother'smoods.Theirfrequentboneofcontentionwasthewar.HelstonewasahighTory(therewereToriesinthosedays),andMoorewasabitterWhig—aWhig,atleast,asfarasoppositiontothewar-partywasconcerned,thatbeingthequestionwhichaffectedhisowninterestandonlyonthatquestiondidheprofessanyBritishpoliticsatall.HelikedtoinfuriateHelstonebydeclaringhisbeliefintheinvincibilityofBonaparte,bytauntingEnglandandEuropewiththeimpotenceoftheireffortstowithstandhim,andbyc