CHAPTER XXXIV

shewouldnotbewonbythemnearlysosoon,withouttheassistanceofsentimentandfeeling,andseriousnessonserioussubjects. “Ourliturgy,”observedCrawford,“hasbeauties,whichnotevenacareless,slovenlystyleofreadingcandestroybutithasalsoredundanciesandrepetitionswhichrequiregoodreadingnottobefelt.Formyself,atleast,ImustconfessbeingnotalwayssoattentiveasIoughttobe”(herewasaglanceatFanny)“thatnineteentimesoutoftwentyIamthinkinghowsuchaprayeroughttoberead,andlongingtohaveittoreadmyself.Didyouspeak?”steppingeagerlytoFanny,andaddressingherinasoftenedvoiceanduponhersaying“No,”headded,“Areyousureyoudidnotspeak?Isawyourlipsmove.IfanciedyoumightbegoingtotellmeIoughttobemoreattentive,andnotallowmythoughtstowander.Arenotyougoingtotellmeso?” “No,indeed,youknowyourdutytoowellformeto—evensupposing—” Shestopt,feltherselfgettingintoapuzzle,andcouldnotbeprevailedontoaddanotherword,notbydintofseveralminutesofsupplicationandwaiting.Hethenreturnedtohisformerstation,andwentonasiftherehadbeennosuchtenderinterruption. “Asermon,welldelivered,ismoreuncommoneventhanprayerswellread.Asermon,goodinitself,isnorarething.Itismoredifficulttospeakwellthantocomposewellthatis,therulesandtrickofcompositionareofteneranobjectofstudy.Athoroughlygoodsermon,thoroughlywelldelivered,isacapitalgratification.Icanneverhearsuchaonewithoutthegreatestadmirationandrespect,andmorethanhalfamindtotakeordersandpreachmyself.Thereissomethingintheeloquenceofthepulpit,whenitisreallyeloquence,whichisentitledtothehighestpraiseandhonour.Thepreacherwhocantouchandaffectsuchanheterogeneousmassofhearers,onsubjectslimited,andlongwornthreadbareinallcommonhandswhocansayanythingneworstriking,anythingthatrousestheattentionwithoutoffendingthetaste,orwearingoutthefeelingsofhishearers,isamanwhomonecouldnot,inhispubliccapacity,honourenough.Ishouldliketobesuchaman.” Edmundlaughed. “Ishouldindeed.Ineverlistenedtoadistinguishedpreacherinmylifewithoutasortofenvy.Butthen,ImusthaveaLondonaudience.Icouldnotpreachbuttotheeducatedtothosewhowerecapableofestimatingmycomposition.AndIdonotknowthatIshouldbefondofpreachingoftennowandthen,perhapsonceortwiceinthespring,afterbeinganxiouslyexpectedforhalfadozenSundaystogetherbutnotforaconstancyitwouldnotdoforaconstancy.” HereFanny,whocouldnotbutlisten,involuntarilyshookherhead,andCrawfordwasinstantlybyhersideagain,entreatingtoknowhermeaningandasEdmundperceived,byhisdrawinginachair,andsittingdownclosebyher,thatitwastobeaverythoroughattack,thatlooksandundertonesweretobewelltried,hesankasquietlyaspossibleintoacorner,turnedhisback,andtookupanewspaper,verysincerelywishingthatdearlittleFannymightbepersuadedintoexplainingawaythatshakeoftheheadtothesatisfactionofherardentloverandasearnestlytryingtoburyeverysoundofthebusinessfromhimselfinmurmursofhisown,overthevariousadvertisementsof“AmostdesirableEstateinSouthWales”“ToParentsandGuardians”anda“Capitalseason’dHunter.” Fanny,meanwhile,vexedwithherselffornothavingbeenasmotionlessasshewasspeechless,andgrievedtothehearttoseeEdmund’sarrangements,wastryingbyeverythinginthepowerofhermodest,gentlenature,torepulseMr.Crawford,andavoidbothhislooksandinquiriesandhe,unrepulsable,waspersistinginboth. “Whatdidthatshakeoftheheadmean?”saidhe.“Whatwasitmeanttoexpress?Disapprobation,Ifear.Butofwhat?WhathadIbeensayingtodispleaseyou?Didyouthinkmespeakingimproperly,lightly,irreverentlyonthesubject?OnlytellmeifIwas.OnlytellmeifIwaswrong.Iwanttobesetright.Nay,nay,Ientreatyouforonemomentputdownyourwork.Whatdidthatshakeoftheheadmean?” Invainwasher“Pray,sir,don’tpray,Mr.Crawford,”repeatedtwiceoverandinvaindidshetrytomoveaway.Inthesamelow,eagervoice,andthes