The Vicar of Bullhampton

on her nose, was sitting as usual with a stocking over her left arm. On the round table was a great open Bible, and, lying on the Bible, were sundry large worsted hose, which always seemed to M

ack,-going there always alone. There was no one now to accompany her. Her husband never went,-never had gone,-to church, and her son now had broken away from his good practices. On alternate mornings Fanny went, and also on every Sunday afternoon. Wet or dry, storm or sunshine, she always went; and her father, who was an old Pagan, loved her for her zeal. Mrs. Brattle was a slight-made old woman, with hair almost white peering out

salutation, and putting down her stockings first, and then her spectacles upon the book, so that th

ostly to see you to

o mind too. Will you take an apple, Mr. Fenwick? I don't know that we've anything else to offer, but

munch, it, declaring that they had none such in their orchard.

that I have something t

d news left to us now,-little that comes from the tongues of men. It

t Sam. Where was Sam last night?-She only shook her head. Did he s

n't set eyes on him si

His father does not giv

ill his father do pay him a some'at over and above his keep. It isn'

he had nothing, so that he needs must come home

llumpton,"-for so the name was ordinarily prono

s father agre

ith a will. There's times when his father softens down to him, and then to see 'em, you'd think they was all in all to each other. There's a stroke

intimate at the mill Mrs. Brattle had thought that her husband's habits of life would have been to him as wormwood and gall,-that he would be unable not to chide, and well she knew that her husband would bear no chiding. By degrees she had come to understand that this new parson was one who talked more of life with its sorrows, and vices, and chances of happiness, and possibilities of goodness, than he did of the requirements of his religion. For herself inwardly she had grieved at this, and, possibly, also for him; but, doubtless, there had come to her some comfort, which she did not care to analyse, from the manner in which "the master," as she called him, Pagan as he was, had been treated by her clergyman. She wondered that it should be so, but yet it was a relief to her to know that God's messenger should come to her, and yet say never a word of his mess

ght, Fan?" asked the mot

r. He slept

ure?" said

g as he went out. It was about five.

did he

't be home till nightfall. I told him where he

n't see him

was at dinner before yesterday, but I haven't seen him s

with whom Sam was associated were thieves and housebreakers. If these men were prowling about Bullhampton it was certainly his duty to have them arrested if possible, and to prevent probable depredations, for his neighbours' sake as we

l be home to-ni

ny, who knew that she could not

to me! Tell him that I will do him no harm. God

f that, sir,"

reach to him. I will only talk to hi

it that he ha

he been alone I should have thought nothing of it. He thinks he owes me a grudge for speaking to his father; and had I found him paying

-stealing?" as

rse. I had a tussle with one of them, and I am sure the man was hurt. That, however, has nothing to do with it. What I desire

e where and how none of them knew. Among such men and women as the Brattles, parental authority must needs lie much lighter than it does with those who are wont to give much and to receive much. What obedience does the lad owe who at eighteen goes forth and earns his own bread? What is it to him that

st the weakness of his age by the force of his energy. The parson knew that the miller saw him, but the miller took no notice,-looked rather as though he did not wish to be ob

ster Sam will turn to housebreaking,

ebreakin

that he i

y going to br

king about on their own scores. Don't you frighten yourself. What with the constable and the life-preserver, we'l

f himself because of this friendship on his part for one so much younger than himself, and so much his inferior in rank,-it would be to him a most grievous misfortune should he be called upon to acknowledge publicly Sam Brattle's iniquity, and more grievous still, if the necessity should be forced upon him of bringing Sam to open punishment. Fenwick knew well that diverse accusa