agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第22节
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reflection； she added … 'Well； well！ I suppose he's good enough for his
place： but I'm glad I'm not dependent on HIM for amusement … that's all。
Did you see how Mr。 Hatfield hurried out to get a bow from me； and be in
time to put us into the carriage？'
'Yes；' answered I； internally adding； 'and I thought it somewhat
derogatory to his dignity as a clergyman to come flying from the pulpit in
such eager haste to shake hands with the squire； and hand his wife and
daughters into their carriage： and； moreover； I owe him a grudge for
nearly shutting me out of it'； for； in fact； though I was standing before his
face； close beside the carriage steps； waiting to get in； he would persist in
putting them up and closing the door； till one of the family stopped him by
calling out that the governess was not in yet； then； without a word of
apology； he departed； wishing them good…morning； and leaving the
footman to finish the business。
NOTA BENE。 … Mr。 Hatfield never spoke to me； neither did Sir Hugh
or Lady Meltham； nor Mr。 Harry or Miss Meltham； nor Mr。 Green or his
sisters； nor any other lady or gentleman who frequented that church： nor；
in fact； any one that visited at Horton Lodge。
Miss Murray ordered the carriage again； in the afternoon； for herself
and her sister： she said it was too cold for them to enjoy themselves in
the garden； and besides； she believed Harry Meltham would be at church。
'For；' said she； smiling slyly at her own fair image in the glass； 'he has been
a most exemplary attendant at church these last few Sundays： you would
think he was quite a good Christian。 And you may go with us； Miss Grey：
I want you to see him； he is so greatly improved since he returned from
abroad … you can't think！ And besides； then you will have an opportunity
of seeing the beautiful Mr。 Weston again； and of hearing him preach。'
I did hear him preach； and was decidedly pleased with the evangelical
truth of his doctrine； as well as the earnest simplicity of his manner； and
the clearness and force of his style。 It was truly refreshing to hear such a
sermon； after being so long accustomed to the dry； prosy discourses of the
former curate； and the still less edifying harangues of the rector。 Mr。
Hatfield would come sailing up the aisle； or rather sweeping along like a
whirlwind； with his rich silk gown flying behind him and rustling against
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the pew doors； mount the pulpit like a conqueror ascending his triumphal
car； then； sinking on the velvet cushion in an attitude of studied grace；
remain in silent prostration for a certain time； then mutter over a Collect；
and gabble through the Lord's Prayer； rise； draw off one bright lavender
glove； to give the congregation the benefit of his sparkling rings； lightly
pass his fingers through his well…curled hair； flourish a cambric
handkerchief； recite a very short passage； or； perhaps； a mere phrase of
Scripture； as a head…piece to his discourse； and； finally； deliver a
composition which； as a composition； might be considered good； though
far too studied and too artificial to be pleasing to me： the propositions
were well laid down； the arguments logically conducted； and yet； it was
sometimes hard to listen quietly throughout； without some slight
demonstrations of disapproval or impatience。
His favourite subjects were church discipline； rites and ceremonies；
apostolical succession； the duty of reverence and obedience to the clergy；
the atrocious criminality of dissent； the absolute necessity of observing all
the forms of godliness； the reprehensible presumption of individuals who
attempted to think for themselves in matters connected with religion； or to
be guided by their own interpretations of Scripture； and； occasionally （to
please his wealthy parishioners） the necessity of deferential obedience
from the poor to the rich … supporting his maxims and exhortations
throughout with quotations from the Fathers： with whom he appeared to
be far better acquainted than with the Apostles and Evangelists； and whose
importance he seemed to consider at least equal to theirs。 But now and
then he gave us a sermon of a different order … what some would call a
very good one； but sunless and severe： representing the Deity as a
terrible taskmaster rather than a benevolent father。 Yet； as I listened； I
felt inclined to think the man was sincere in all he said： he must have
changed his views； and become decidedly religious； gloomy and austere；
yet still devout。 But such illusions were usually dissipated； on coming
out of church； by hearing his voice in jocund colloquy with some of the
Melthams or Greens； or； perhaps； the Murrays themselves； probably
laughing at his own sermon； and hoping that he had given the rascally
people something to think about； perchance； exulting in the thought that
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old Betty Holmes would now lay aside the sinful indulgence of her pipe；
which had been her daily solace for upwards of thirty years： that George
Higgins would be frightened out of his Sabbath evening walks； and
Thomas Jackson would be sorely troubled in his conscience； and shaken in
his sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection at the last day。
Thus； I could not but conclude that Mr。 Hatfield was one of those who
'bind heavy burdens； and grievous to be borne； and lay them upon men's
shoulders； while they themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers'； and who 'make the word of God of none effect by their traditions；
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men。' I was well pleased to
observe that the new curate resembled him； as far as I could see； in none
of these particulars。
'Well； Miss Grey； what do you think of him now？' said Miss Murray； as
we took our places in the carriage after service。
'No harm still；' replied I。
'No harm！' repeated she in amazement。 'What do you mean？'
'I mean； I think no worse of him than I did before。'
'No worse！ I should think not indeed … quite the contrary！ Is he not
greatly improved？'
'Oh； yes； very much indeed；' replied I； for I had now discovered that it
was Harry Meltham she meant； not Mr。 Weston。 That gentleman had
eagerly come forward to speak to the young ladies： a thing he would
hardly have ventured to do had their mother been present； he had likewise
politely handed them into the carriage。 He had not attempted to shut me
out； like Mr。 Hatfield； neither； of course； had he offered me his assistance
（I should not have accepted it； if he had）； but as long as the door remained
open he had stood smirking and chatting with them； and then lifted his hat
and departed to his own abode： but I had scarcely noticed him all the
time。 My companions； however； had been more observant； and； as we
rolled along； they discussed between them not only his looks； words； and
actions； but every feature of his face； and every article of his apparel。
'You shan't have him all to yourself； Rosalie；' said Miss Matilda at the
close of this discussion； 'I like him： I know he'd make a nice； jolly
companion for me。'
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'Well； you're quite welcome to him； Matilda；' replied her sister； in a
tone of affected indifference。
'And I'm sure；' continued the other； 'he admires me quite as much as he
does you； doesn't he； Miss Grey？'
'I don't know； I'm not acquainted with his sentiments。'
'Well； but he DOES though。'
'My DEAR Matilda！ nobody will ever admire you till you get rid of
your rough； awkward manners。'
'Oh； stuff！ Harry Meltham likes such
