CHAPTER XI

ywithoutthemeansofseeingwhatclergymenare,beingatthispresenttimetheguestofmyownbrother,Dr.Grant.AndthoughDr.Grantismostkindandobligingtome,andthoughheisreallyagentleman,and,Idaresay,agoodscholarandclever,andoftenpreachesgoodsermons,andisveryrespectable,Iseehimtobeanindolent,selfishbonvivant,whomusthavehispalateconsultedineverythingwhowillnotstirafingerfortheconvenienceofanyoneandwho,moreover,ifthecookmakesablunder,isoutofhumourwithhisexcellentwife.Toownthetruth,HenryandIwerepartlydrivenoutthisveryeveningbyadisappointmentaboutagreengoose,whichhecouldnotgetthebetterof.Mypoorsisterwasforcedtostayandbearit.” “Idonotwonderatyourdisapprobation,uponmyword.Itisagreatdefectoftemper,madeworsebyaveryfaultyhabitofself-indulgenceandtoseeyoursistersufferingfromitmustbeexceedinglypainfultosuchfeelingsasyours.Fanny,itgoesagainstus.WecannotattempttodefendDr.Grant.” “No,”repliedFanny,“butweneednotgiveuphisprofessionforallthatbecause,whateverprofessionDr.Granthadchosen,hewouldhavetakena—notagoodtemperintoitandashemust,eitherinthenavyorarmy,havehadagreatmanymorepeopleunderhiscommandthanhehasnow,Ithinkmorewouldhavebeenmadeunhappybyhimasasailororsoldierthanasaclergyman.Besides,IcannotbutsupposethatwhatevertheremaybetowishotherwiseinDr.Grantwouldhavebeeninagreaterdangerofbecomingworseinamoreactiveandworldlyprofession,wherehewouldhavehadlesstimeandobligation—wherehemighthaveescapedthatknowledgeofhimself,thefrequency,atleast,ofthatknowledgewhichitisimpossibleheshouldescapeasheisnow.Aman—asensiblemanlikeDr.Grant,cannotbeinthehabitofteachingotherstheirdutyeveryweek,cannotgotochurchtwiceeverySunday,andpreachsuchverygoodsermonsinsogoodamannerashedoes,withoutbeingthebetterforithimself.ItmustmakehimthinkandIhavenodoubtthatheoftenerendeavourstorestrainhimselfthanhewouldifhehadbeenanythingbutaclergyman.” “Wecannotprovetothecontrary,tobesurebutIwishyouabetterfate,MissPrice,thantobethewifeofamanwhoseamiablenessdependsuponhisownsermonsforthoughhemaypreachhimselfintoagood-humoureverySunday,itwillbebadenoughtohavehimquarrellingaboutgreengeesefromMondaymorningtillSaturdaynight.” “IthinkthemanwhocouldoftenquarrelwithFanny,”saidEdmundaffectionately,“mustbebeyondthereachofanysermons.”