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Doctor Thorne
投诉 阅读记录

第1章

DOCTORTHORNE

CHAPTERI

THEGRESHAMSOFGRESHAMSBURY

Beforethereaderisintroducedtothemodestcountrymedicalpractitionerwhoistobethechiefpersonageofthefollowingtale,itwillbewellthatheshouldbemadeacquaintedwithsomeparticularsastothelocalityinwhich,andtheneighboursamongwhom,ourdoctorfollowedhisprofession。

ThereisacountyinthewestofEnglandnotsofulloflife,indeed,norsowidelyspokenofassomeofitsmanufacturingleviathanbrethreninthenorth,butwhichis,nevertheless,verydeartothosewhoknowitwell。Itsgreenpastures,itswavingwheat,itsdeepandshadyand——letusadd——dirtylanes,itspathsandstiles,itstawny-coloured,well-builtruralchurches,itsavenuesofbeeches,andfrequentTudormansions,itsconstantcountyhunt,itssocialgraces,andthegeneralairofclanshipwhichpervadesit,hasmadeittoitsowninhabitantsafavouredlandofGoshen。Itispurelyagricultural;agriculturalinitsproduce,agriculturalinitspoor,andagriculturalinitspleasures。Therearetownsinit,ofcourse;depotsfromwhencearebroughtseedsandgroceries,ribbonsandfire-shovels;inwhichmarketsareheldandcountyballsarecarriedon;whichreturnmemberstoParliament,generally——inspiteofReformBills,past,present,andcoming——inaccordancewiththedictatesofsomeneighbouringlandmagnate;fromwhenceemanatethecountrypostmen,andwhereislocatedthesupplyofpost-horsesnecessaryforcountyvisitings。Butthesetownsaddnothingtotheimportanceofthecounty;dull,allbutdeath-likesinglestreets。Eachpossessestwopumps,threehotels,tenshops,fifteenbeer-houses,abeadle,andamarket-place。

Indeed,thetownpopulationofthecountyreckonsfornothingwhentheimportanceofthecountyisdiscussed,withtheexception,asbeforesaid,oftheassizetown,whichisalsoacathedralcity。Hereinaclericalaristocracy,whichiscertainlynotwithoutitsdueweight。A

residentbishop,aresidentdean,anarchdeacon,threeorfourresidentprebendaries,andalltheirnumerouschaplains,vicars,andecclesiasticalsatellites,domakeupasocietysufficientlypowerfultobecountedassomethingbythecountysquirearchy。InotherrespectsthegreatnessofBarsetshiredependswhollyonthelandedpowers。

Barsetshire,however,isnotnowsoessentiallyonewholeasitwasbeforetheReformBilldividedit。ThereisinthesedaysanEastBarsetshire,andthereisaWestBarsetshire;andpeopleconversantwithBarsetshiredoingsdeclarethattheycanalreadydeciphersomedifferenceoffeeling,somedivisionofinterests。TheeasternmoietyofthecountyismorepurelyConservativethanthewestern;thereis,orwas,ataintofPeelisminthelatter;andthen,too,theresidenceoftwosuchgreatWhigmagnatesastheDukeofOmniumandtheEarlDeCourcyinthatlocalityinsomedegreeovershadowsandrenderslessinfluentialthegentlemenwholivenearthem。

ItistoEastBarsetshirethatwearecalled。Whenthedivisionabovespokenofwasfirstcontemplated,inthosestormydaysinwhichgallantmenwerestillcombattingreformministers,ifnotwithhope,stillwithspirit,thebattlewasfoughtbynonemorebravelythanbyJohnNewboldGreshamofGreshamsbury,thememberforBarsetshire。Fate,however,andtheDukeofWellingtonwereadverse,andinthefollowingParliamentJohnNewboldGreshamwasonlymemberforEastBarsetshire。

Whetherornotitwastrue,asstatedatthetime,thattheaspectofthemenwithwhomhewascalledontoassociateatStStephen"sbrokehisheart,itisnotforusnowtoinquire。ItiscertainlytruethathedidnotlivetoseethefirstyearofthereformedParliamentbroughttoaclose。

ThethenMrGreshamwasnotanoldmanatthetimeofhisdeath,andhiseldestson,FrancieNewboldGresham,wasaveryyoungman;but,notwithstandinghisyouth,andnotwithstandingothergroundsofobjectionwhichstoodinthewayofsuchpreferment,andwhich,itmustbeexplained,hewaschoseninhisfather"splace。Thefather"sserviceshadbeentoorecent,toowellappreciated,toothoroughlyinunisonwiththefeelingsofthosearoundhimtoallowofanyotherchoice;andinthiswayyoungFrankGreshamfoundhimselfmemberforEastBarsetshire,althoughtheverymenwhoelectedhimknewthattheyhadbutslendergroundfortrustinghimwiththeirsuffrages。

FrankGresham,thoughthenonlytwentyfouryearsofage,wasamarriedman,andafather。Hehadalreadychosenawife,andbyhischoicehadgivenmuchgroundofdistrusttothemenofEastBarsetshire。HehadmarriednootherthanLadyArabellaDeCourcy,thesisterofthegreatWhigearlwholivedatCourcyCastleinthewest;thatearlwhonotonlyhadvotedfortheReformBill,buthadbeeninfamouslyactiveinbringingoverotheryoungpeerssotovote,andwhosenamethereforestankinthenostrilsofthestaunchTorysquiresofthecounty。

NotonlyhadFrankGreshamsowedded,buthavingthusimproperlyandunpatrioticallychosenawife,hehadaddedtohissinsbybecomingrecklesslyintimatewithhiswife"srelations。ItistruethathestillcalledhimselfaTory,belongedtotheclubofwhichhisfatherhadbeenoneofthemosthonouredmembers,andinthedaysofthegreatbattlegothisheadbrokeninarow,ontherightside;but,nevertheless,itwasfeltbythegoodmen,trueandblue,ofEastBarsetshire,thataconstantsojourneratCourcyCastlecouldnotberegardedasaconsistentTory。When,however,hisfatherdied,thatbrokenheadservedhimingoodstead:hissufferingsinthecauseweremadethemostof;these,inunisonwithhisfather"smerits,turnedthescale,anditwasaccordinglydecided,atameetingheldattheGeorgeandDragon,atBarchester,thatFrankGreshamshouldfillhisfather"sshoes。

ButFrankGreshamcouldnotfillhisfather"sshoes;theyweretoobigforhim。HedidbecomememberforEastBarsetshire,buthewassuchamember——solukewarm,soindifferent,sopronetoassociatewiththeenemiesofthegoodcause,solittlewillingtofightthegoodfight,thathesoondisgustedthosewhomostdearlylovedthememoryoftheoldsquire。

DeCourcyCastleinthosedayshadgreatallurementsforayoungman,andallthoseallurementsweremadethemostoftowinoveryoungGresham。Hiswife,whowasayearortwoolderthanhimself,wasafashionablewoman,withthoroughWhigtastesandaspirations,suchasbecamethedaughterofagreatWhigearl;shecaredforpolitics,orthoughtthatshecaredforthem,morethanherhusbanddid;foramonthortwoprevioustoherengagementshehadbeenattachedtotheCourt,andhadbeenmadetobelievethatmuchofthepolicyofEngland"srulersdependedonthepoliticalintriguesofEngland"swomen。Shewasonewhowouldfainbedoingsomethingifsheonlyknewhow,andthefirstimportantattemptshemadewastoturnherrespectableyoungToryhusbandintoasecond-rateWhigbantling。Asthislady"scharacterwill,itishoped,showitselfinthefollowingpages,weneednotnowdescribeitmoreclosely。

Itisnotabadthingtobeson-in-lawtoapotentearl,memberofParliamentforacounty,andapossessorofafineoldEnglishseat,andafineoldEnglishfortune。Asaveryyoungman,FrankGreshamfoundthelifetowhichhewasthusintroducedagreeableenough。Heconsoledhimselfasbesthemightforthebluelookswithwhichhewasgreetedbyhisownparty,andtookhisrevengebyconsortingmorethoroughlythaneverwithhispoliticaladversaries。Foolishly,likeafoolishmoth,heflewtothebrightlight,and,likethemoths,ofcourseheburnthiswings。Earlyin1833hehadbecomeamemberofParliament,andintheautumnof1834thedissolutioncame。Youngmembersofthreehadfour-and-twentydonotthinkmuchofdissolutions,forgetthefanciesoftheirconstituents,andaretooproudofthepresenttocalculatemuchastothefuture。SoitwaswithMrGresham。

HisfatherhadbeenmemberforBarsetshireallhislife,andhelookedforwardtosimilarprosperityasthoughitwaspartofhisinheritance;

buthefailedtotakeanyofthestepswhichhadsecuredhisfather"sseat。

Intheautumnof1834thedissolutioncame,andFrankGresham,withhishonourableladywifeandalltheDeCourcysathisback,foundthathehadmortallyoffendedthecounty。

Tohisgreatdisgustanothercandidatewasbroughtforwardasafellowtohislatecolleague,andthoughhemanfullyfoughtthebattle,andspenttenthousandpoundsinthecontest,hecouldnotrecoverhisposition。AhighTory,withagreatWhiginteresttobackhim,isneverapopularpersoninEngland。Noonecantrusthim,thoughtheremaybethosewhoarewillingtoplacehim,untrusted,inhighpositions。SuchwasthecasewithMrGresham。Thereweremanywhowerewilling,forfamilyconsiderations,tokeephiminParliament;butnoonethoughtthathewasfittobethere。Theconsequenceswere,thatabitterandexpensivecontestensued。FrankGresham,whentwittedwithbeingaWhig,foresworetheDeCourcyfamily;andthen,whenridiculedashavingbeenthrownoverbytheTories,foresworehisfather"soldfriends。Sobetweenthetwostoolshefelltotheground,and,asapolitician,heneveragainrosetohisfeet。

Heneveragainrosetohisfeet;buttwiceagainhemadeviolenteffortstodoso。ElectionsinEastBarsetshire,fromvariouscauses,camequickuponeachotherinthosedays,andbeforehewaseight-and-twentyyearsofageMrGreshamhadthreetimescontestedthecountyandbeenthreetimesbeaten。Tospeakthetruthofhim,hisownspiritwouldhavebeensatisfiedwiththelossofthefirsttenthousandpounds;butLadyArabellawasmadeofhighermettle。Shehadmarriedamanwithafineplaceandafinefortune;butshehadneverthelessmarriedacommonerandhadinsofarderogatedfromherhighbirth。ShefeltthatherhusbandshouldbebyrightsamemberoftheHouseofLords;but,ifnot,thatitwasatleastessentialthatheshouldhaveaseatinthelowerchamber。Shewouldbedegreessinkintonothingifsheallowedherselftositdown,themerewifeofacountysquire。

Thusinstigated,MrGreshamrepeatedtheuselesscontestthreetimes,andrepeatediteachtimeataseriouscost。Helosthismoney,LadyArabellalosthertemper,andthingsatGreshamsburywentonbynomeansasprosperouslyastheyhaddoneinthedaysoftheoldsquire。

Inthefirsttwelveyearsoftheirmarriage,childrencamefastintothenurseryatGreshamsbury。Thefirstthatwasbornwasaboy;andinthosehappyhalcyondays,whentheoldsquirewasstillalive,greatwasthejoyatthebirthofanheirtoGreshamsbury;bonfiresgleamedthroughthecountry-side,oxenwereroastedwhole,andthecustomaryparaphernaliaofjoy,usualtorichBritonsonsuchoccasionsweregonethroughwithwondrouseclat。Butwhenthetenthbaby,andtheninthlittlegirl,wasbroughtintotheworld,theoutwardshowofjoywasnotsogreat。

Thenothertroublescame。Someoftheselittlegirlsweresickly,someverysickly。LadyArabellahadherfaults,andtheyweresuchaswereextremelydetrimentaltoherhusband"shappinessandherown;butthatofbeinganindifferentmotherwasnotamongthem。ShehadworriedherhusbanddailyforyearsbecausehewasnotinParliament,shehadworriedhimbecausehewouldnotfurnishhishouseinPortmanSquare,shehadworriedhimbecauseheobjectedtohavemorepeoplecarriedeverywinteratGreshamsburyParkthanthehousewouldhold;butnowshechangedhertuneandworriedhimbecauseSelinacoughed,becauseHelenawashectic,becausepoorSophy"sspinewasweak,andMatilda"sappetitewasgone。

Worryingfromsuchcauseswaspardonableitwillbesaid。Soitwas;

butthemannerwashardlypardonable。Selina"scoughwascertainlynotfairlyattributabletotheold-fashionedfurnitureinPortmanSquare;

norwouldSophy"sspinehavebeenmateriallybenefitedbyherfatherhavingaseatinParliament;andyet,tohaveheardLadyArabelladiscussingthosemattersinfamilyconclave,onewouldhavethoughtthatshewouldhaveexpectedsuchresults。

Asitwas,herpoorweakdarlingswerecarriedaboutfromLondontoBrighton,fromBrightontosomeGermanbaths,fromtheGermanbathsbacktoTorquay,andthence——asregardedthefourwehavenamed——tothatbournefromwhencenofurtherjourneycouldbemadeunderLadyArabella"sdirections。

TheonesonandheirtoGreshamsburywasnamedashisfather,FrancisNewboldGresham。Hewouldhavebeentheheroofourtalehadnotthatplacebeenpre-occupiedbythevillagedoctor。Asitis,thosewhopleasemayregardhim。Itishewhoistobeourfavouriteyoungman,todothelovescenes,tohavehistrialsandhisdifficulties,andtowinthroughthemornot,asthecasemaybe。Iamtoooldnowtobeahard-heartedauthor,andsoitisprobablethathemaynotdieofabrokenheart。Thosewhodon"tapproveofamiddle-agedbachelorcountrydoctorasahero,maytaketheheirtoGreshamsburyinhisstead,andcallthebook,ifitsopleasethem,"TheLovesandAdventuresofFrancisNewboldGreshamtheYounger。"

AndMasterFrankGreshamwasnotilladaptedforplayingthepartofaheroofthissort。Hedidnotsharehissisters"ill-health,andthoughtheonlyboyofthefamily,heexcelledallhissistersinpersonalappearance。TheGreshamsfromtimeimmemorialhadbeenhandsome。Theywerebroadbrowed,blue-eyed,fairhaired,bornwithdimplesintheirchins,andthatpleasant,aristocraticdangerouscurloftheupperlipwhichcanequallyexpressgoodhumourorscorn。YoungFrankwaseveryinchaGresham,andwasthedarlingofhisfather"sheart。

TheDeCourcyshadneverbeenplain。Therewastoomuchhauteur,toomuchpride,wemayperhapsevenfairlysay,toomuchnobilityintheirgaitandmanners,andevenintheirfaces,toallowoftheirbeingconsideredplain;buttheywerenotaracenurturedbyVenusorApollo。Theyweretallandthin,withhighcheek-bones,highforeheads,andlarge,dignified,coldeyes。TheDeCourcygirlsallhadgoodhair;and,astheyalsopossessedeasymannersandpowersoftalking,theymanagedtopassintheworldforbeautiestilltheywereabsorbedinthematrimonialmarket,andtheworldatlargecarednolongerwhethertheywerebeautiesornot。TheMissesGreshamweremadeintheDeCourcymould,andwerenotonthisaccountthelessdeartotheirmother。

Thetwoeldest,AugustaandBeatrice,lived,andwereapparentlylikelytolive。Thefournextfadedanddiedoneafteranother——allinthesamesadyear——andwerelaidintheneat,newcemeteryatTorquay。Thencameapair,bornatonebirth,weak,delicate,fraillittleflowers,withdarkhairanddarkeyes,andthin,long,palefaces,withlong,bonyhands,andlongbonyfeet,whommenlookedonasfatedtofollowtheirsisterswithquicksteps。Hitherto,however,theyhadnotfollowedthem,norhadtheysufferedastheirsistershadsuffered;andsomepeopleatGreshamsburyattributedthistothefactthatachangehadbeenmadeinthefamilymedicalpractitioner。

Thencametheyoungestoftheflock,shewhosebirthwehavesaidwasnotheraldedwithloudjoy;forwhenshecameintotheworld,fourotherswithpaletemples,wan,worncheeks,andskeleton,whitearms,wereawaitingpermissiontoleaveit。

Suchwasthefamilywhen,intheyear1854,theeldestsoncameofage。HehadbeeneducatedatHarrow,andwasnowstillatCambridge;

but,ofcourse,onsuchadayasthishewasathome。Thatcomingofagemustbeadelightfultimetoayoungmanborntoinheritbroadacresandwidewealth。Thosefull-mouthedcongratulations;thosewarmprayerswithwhichhismanhoodiswelcomedbythegrey-hairedseniorsofthecounty;theaffectionate,allbutmotherlycaressesofneighbouringmotherswhohaveseenhimgrowupfromhiscradle,ofmotherswhohavedaughters,perhaps,fairenough,andgoodenough,andsweetenoughevenforhim;thesoft-spoken,half-bashful,buttendergreetingsofthegirls,whonow,perhapsforthefirsttime,callhimbyhissternfamilyname,instructedbyinstinctratherthanpreceptthatthetimehascomewhenthefamiliarCharlesorfamiliarJohnmustbythembelaidaside;the"luckydogs",andhintsofsilverspoonswhicharepouredintohisearsaseachyoungcompeerslapshisbackandbidshimliveathousandyearsandthenneverdie;theshoutingofthetenantry,thegoodwishesoftheoldfarmerswhocomeuptowringhishand,thekisseswhichhegetsfromthefarmers"wives,andthekisseswhichhegivestothefarmers"daughters;allthesethingsmustmakethetwenty-firstbirthdaypleasantenoughtoayoungheir。Toayouth,however,whofeelsthatheisnowliabletoarrest,andthatheinheritsnootherprivilege,thepleasuremayverypossiblynotbequitesokeen。

ThecasewithyoungFrankGreshammaybesupposedtomuchnearertheformerthanthelatter;butyettheceremonyofhiscomingofagewasbynomeanslikethatwhichfatehadaccordedtohisfather。MrGreshamwasnotanembarrassedman,andthoughtheworlddidnotknowit,or,atanyrate,didnotknowthathewasdeeplyembarrassed,hehadnotthehearttothrowopenhismansionandreceivethecountywithafreehandasthoughallthingsweregoingwellforhim。

Nothingwasgoingwellwithhim。LadyArabellawouldallownothingnearhimoraroundhimtobewell。Everythingwithhimwasnowturnedtovexation;hewasnolongerajoyous,happyman,andthepeopleofEastBarsetshiredidnotlookforgaladoingsonagrandscalewhenyoungGreshamcameofage。

Galadoings,toacertainextent,therewerethere。ItwasinJuly,andtableswerespreadundertheoaksforthetenants。Tableswerespread,andmeatandbeer,andwinewerethere,andFrank,ashewalkedroundandshookhisguestsbythehand,expressedahopethattheirrelationswitheachothermightbelong,close,andmutuallyadvantageous。

Wemustsayafewwordsnowabouttheplaceitself。GreshamsburyParkwasafineoldEnglishman"sseat——wasandis;butwecanassertitmoreeasilyinpasttense,aswearespeakingofitwithreferencetoapasttime。WehavespokenofGreshamsburyPark;therewasaparksocalled,butthemansionitselfwasgenerallyknownasGreshamsburyHouse,anddidnotstandinthepark。WemayperhapsbestdescribeitbysayingthatthevillageofGreshamsburyconsistedofonelong,stragglingstreet,amileinlength,whichinthecentreturnedsharpround,sothatonehalfofthestreetlaydirectlyatrightanglestotheother。

InthisanglestoodGreshamsburyHouse,andthegardensandgroundsarounditfilledupthespacesomade。Therewasanentrancewithlargegatesateachendofthevillage,andeachgatewasguardedbytheeffigiesoftwohugepaganswithclubs,suchbeingthecrestbornebythefamily;fromeachentranceabroadroad,quitestraight,runningthroughamajesticavenueoflimes,leduptothehouse。Thiswasbuiltintherichest,perhapsweshouldrathersayinthepurest,styleofTudorarchitecture;somuchsothat,thoughGreshamsburyislesscompletethanLongleat,lessmagnificentthanHatfield,itmayinsomesensebesaidtobethefinestspecimenofTudorarchitectureofwhichthecountrycanboast。

Itstandsamidamultitudeoftrimgardensandstone-builtterraces,dividedonefromanother:thesetooureyesarenotsoattractiveasthatbroadexpanseoflawnbywhichourcountryhousesaregenerallysurrounded;butthegardensofGreshamsburyhavebeencelebratedfortwocenturies,andanyGreshamwhowouldhavealteredthemwouldhavebeenconsideredtohavedestroyedoneofthewell-knownlandmarksofthefamily。

GreshamsburyPark——properlysocalled——spreadfarawayontheothersideofthevillage。Oppositetothetwogreatgatesleadinguptothemansionweretwosmallergates,theoneopeningontothestables,kennels,andfarm-yard,andtheothertothedeerpark。Thislatterwastheprincipalentrancetothedemesne,andagrandandpicturesqueentranceitwas。theavenueoflimeswhichononesidestretcheduptothehouse,wasontheotherextendedforaquarterofamile,andthenappearedtobeterminatedonlybyanabruptriseintheground。Attheentrancetherewerefoursavagesandfourclubs,twotoeachportal,andwhatwiththemassiveirongates,surmountedbyastonewall,onwhichstoodthefamilyarmssupportedbytwootherclub-bearers,thestone-builtlodges,theDoric,ivy-coveredcolumnswhichsurroundedthecircle,thefourgrimsavages,andtheextentofthespaceitselfthroughwhichthehighroadran,andwhichjustabuttedonthevillage,thespotwassufficientlysignificantofoldfamilygreatness。

ThosewhoexamineditmorecloselymightseethatunderthearmswasascrollbearingtheGreshammotto,andthatthewordswererepeatedinsmallerlettersundereachofthesavages。"GardezGresham",hadbeenchoseninthedaysofmotto-choosingprobablybysomeherald-at-armsasanappropriatelegendforsignifyingthepeculiarattributesofthefamily。Now,however,unfortunately,menwerenotofonemindastotheexactideasignified。Somedeclared,withmuchheraldicwarmth,thatitwasanaddresstothesavages,callingonthemtotakecareoftheirpatron;whileothers,withwhomImyselfaminclinedtoagree,averredwithequalcertaintythatitwasanadvicetothepeopleatlarge,especiallytothoseinclinedtorebelagainstthearistocracyofthecounty,thattheshould"bewaretheGresham"。Thelattersignificationwouldbetokenstrength——sosaidtheholdersofthedoctrine;theformerweakness。NowtheGreshamswereeverastrongpeople,andneveraddictedtohumility。

Wewillnotpretendtodecidethequestion。Alas!eitherconstructionwasnotequallyunsuitedtothefamilyfortunes。SuchchangeshadtakenplaceinEnglandsincetheGreshamshadfoundedthemselvesthatnosavagecouldanylongerinanywayprotectthem;theymustprotectthemselveslikecommonfolk,orliveunprotected。NornowwasitnecessarythatanyneighbourshouldshakeinhisshoeswhentheGreshamfrowned。ItwouldhavebeentobewishedthatthepresentGreshamhimselfcouldhavebeenasindifferenttothefrownsofsomeofhisneighbours。

Buttheoldsymbolsremained,andmaysuchsymbolslongremainamongus;theyarestilllovelyandfittobeloved。Theytellusofthetrueandmanlyfeelingsofothertimes;andtohimwhocanreadaright,theyexplainmorefully,moretrulythananywrittenhistorycando,howEnglishmenhavebecomewhattheyare。Englandisnotyetacommercialcountryinthesensethatepithetisusedforher;andletusstillhopethatshewillnotsoonbecomeso。ShemightsurelyaswellbecalledfeudalEngland,orchivalrousEngland。IfinwesterncivilizedEurope,theredoesexistanationamongwhomtherearehighsignors,andwithwhomtheownersofthelandarethetruearistocracy,thearistocracyistrustedasbeingbestandfittesttorule,thatnationistheEnglish。ChooseoutthetenleadingmenofeachgreatEuropeanpeople。ChoosetheminFrance,inAustria,Sardinia,Prussia,Russia,Sweden,Denmark,Spain(?),andthenselecttheteninEnglandwhosenamesarebestknownasthoseofleadingstatesmen;theresultwillshowinwhichcountrytherestillexiststheclosestattachmentto,thesinceresttrustin,theoldfeudalandnowso-calledlandedinterests。

Englandacommercialcountry!Yes;asVenicewas。Shemayexcelothernationsincommerce,butyetitisnotthatinwhichshemostpridesherself,inwhichshemostexcels。Merchantsassucharenotthefirstmenamongus;thoughitperhapsbeopen,barelyopen,toamerchanttobecomeoneofthem。Buyingandsellingisgoodandnecessary;itisverynecessary,andmay,possibly,beverygood;butitcannotbethenoblestworkofman;andletushopethatitmaynotbeinyourtimebeesteemedthenoblestworkofanyEnglishman。

GreshamsburyParkwasverylarge;itlayontheoutsideoftheangleformedbythevillagestreet,andstretchedawayontwosideswithoutapparentlimitorboundariesvisiblefromthevillageroadorhouse。

Indeed,thegroundonthissidewassobrokenupintoabrupthills,andconical-shaped,oak-coveredexcrescences,whichwereseenpeepingupthroughandovereachother,thatthetrueextentoftheparkwasmuchmagnifiedtotheeye。Itwasverypossibleforastrangertogetintoitandtofindsomedifficultyingettingoutagainbyanyofitsknowngates;andsuchwasthebeautyofthelandscape,thataloverorscenerywouldbetemptedthustolosehimself。

Ihavesaidthatononesidelaythekennels,andthiswillgivemeanopportunityofdescribinghereoneespecialepisode,alongepisode,inthelifeoftheexistingsquire。

HehadoncerepresentedhiscountyinParliament,andwhenheceasedtodosohestillfeltanambitiontobeconnectedinsomepeculiarwaywiththatcounty"sgreatness;hestilldesiredthataGreshamofGreshamsburyshouldbesomethingmoreinEastBarsetshire,thanJacksonoftheGrange,orBakerofMillHill,orBatesonofAnnesgrove。Theywereallhisfriends,andveryrespectablecountrygentlemen;butMrGreshamofGreshamsburyshouldbemorethanthis:evenhehadenoughambitiontobeawareofsuchalonging。Therefore,whenanopportunityoccurredhetooktohuntingthecounty。

Forthisemploymenthewasineverywaywellsuited;——unlessitwasinthematteroffinance。Thoughhehadinhisveryearliestmanlyyearsgivensuchgreatoffencebyindifferencetohisfamilypolitics,andhadinacertaindegreefosteredtheill-feelingbycontestingthecountyinoppositiontothewishesofhisbrothersquires,nevertheless,heborealovedandpopularname。Menregrettedthatheshouldnothavebeenwhattheywishedhimtobe,thatheshouldnothavebeensuchaswastheoldsquire;butwhentheyfoundthatsuchwasthecase,thathecouldnotbegreatamongthemasapolitician,theywerestillwillingthatheshouldbegreatinanyotherwayiftherewerecountygreatnessforwhichhewassuited。Nowhewasknownasanexcellenthorseman,asathoroughsportsman,asoneknowingindogs,andtender-heartedasasuckingmothertoalitterofyoungfoxes;hehadriddeninthecountysincehewasfifteen,andhadafinevoiceforaviewhallo,kneweveryhoundbyname,andcouldwindahornwithsufficientmusicforallhuntingpurposes;moreover,hehadcometohisproperty,aswaswellknownthroughallBarsetshire,withaclearincomeoffourteenthousandayear。

Thus,whensomeoldworn-outmasterofhoundswasruntoground,aboutayearafterMrGresham"slastcontestforthecounty,itseemedtoallpartiestobeapleasantandrationalarrangementthatthehoundsshouldgotoGreshamsbury。Pleasant,indeed,toallexcepttheLadyArabella;andrational,perhaps,toallexceptthesquirehimself。

Allthistimehewasalreadyconsiderableencumbered。Hehadspentmuchmorethanheshouldhavedone,andsoindeedhadhiswife,inthosetwosplendidyearsinwhichtheyhadfiguredasgreatamongthegreatonesoftheearth。FourteenthousandayearoughttohavebeenenoughtoallowamemberofParliamentwithayoungwifeandtwoorthreechildrentoliveinLondonandkeepuptheircountryfamilymansion;butthentheDeCourcyswereverygreatpeople,andLadyArabellachosetoliveasshehadbeenaccustomedtodo,andashersister-in-lawthecountesslived;nowLorddeCourcyhadmuchmorethanfourteenthousandayear。Thencamethethreeelections,withtheirvastattendantcost,andthenthosecostlyexpedientstowhichgentlemenareforcedtohaverecoursewhohavelivedbeyondtheirincomeandfinditimpossibletoreducetheirestablishmentsastolivemuchbelowit。ThuswhenthehoundscametoGreshamsbury,MrGreshamwasalreadyapoorman。

LadyArabellasaidmuchtoopposetheircoming;butLadyArabella,thoughitcouldhardlybesaidofherthatshewasunderherhusband"srule,certainlywasnotentitledtoboastthatshehadmadehimunderhers。ShethenmadeherfirstgrandattackastothefurnitureinPortmanSquare;andwasthenforthefirsttimespeciallyinformedthatthefurnituretherewasnotmatterofmuchimportance,asshewouldnotinfutureberequiredtomoveherfamilytothatresidenceduringtheLondonseasons。Thesortofconversationwhichgrewfromsuchacommencementmaybeimagined。HadLadyArabellaworriedherlordless,hemightperhapshaveconsideredwithmorecoolnessthefollyofencounteringsoprodigiousanincreasetotheexpenseofhisestablishment;hadhenotspentsomuchmoneyinapursuitwhichhiswifedidnotenjoy,shemightperhapshavebeenmoresparinginherrebukesastohisindifferencetoherLondonpleasures。Asitwas,thehoundscametoGreshamsbury,andLadyArabelladidgotoLondonforsomeperiodineachyear,andthefamilyexpenseswerebynomeanslessened。

Thekennels,however,werenowagainempty。Twoyearsprevioustothetimeatwhichourstorybegins,thehoundshadbeencarriedofftotheseatofsomerichersportsman。ThiswasmorefeltbyMrGreshamthananyothermisfortunewhichhehadyetincurred。Hehadbeenmasterofhoundsfortenyears,andthatworkhehadatanyratedonewell。Thepopularityamonghisneighbourswhichhehadlostasapoliticianhehadregainedasasportsman,andhewouldfainhaveremainedautocraticinthehunt,haditbeenpossible。Buthesoremainedmuchlongerthanheshouldhavedone,andatlasttheywentaway,notwithoutsignsandsoundsofvisiblejoyonthepartofLadyArabella。

ButwehavekepttheGreshamsburytenancywaitingundertheoak-treesbyfartoolong。Yes;whenyoungFrankcameofagetherewasstillenoughleftatGreshamsbury,stillmeansenoughatthesquire"sdisposal,tolightonebonfire,toroast,wholeinitsskin,onebullock。Frank"svirilitycameonhimnotquiteunmarked,asthatoftheparson"ssonsmightdo,orthesonofaneighbouringattorney。ItcouldstillbereportedintheBarsetshireConservative“Standard“that"Thebeardswaggledall,"atGreshamsbury,nowastheyhaddoneformanycenturiesonsimilarfestivals。Yes;itwassoreported。Butthis,likesomanyothersuchreports,hadbutashadowoftruthinit。"Theypouredtheliquorin,"certainly,thosewhowerethere;butthebeardsdidnotwagastheyhadbeenwonttowaginformeryears。

Beardswon"twagforthetelling。Thesquirewasathiswits"endformoney,andthetenantsoneandallhadsoheard。Rentshadbeenraisedonthem;timberhadfallenfast;thelawyerontheestatewasgrowingrich;tradesmeninBarchester,nay,inGreshamsburyitself,werebeginningtomutter;andthesquirehimselfwouldnotbemerry。Undersuchcircumstancesthethroatsofthetenantrywillstillswallow,buttheirbeardswillnotwag。

"Imindswell,"saidFarmerOaklerathtohisneighbour,"whenthesquirehisselfcomedofage。Lordlove"ee!Therewasfungoingthatday。Therewasmoreyaledrankethenthan"sbeenbrewedatthebighousethesetwoyears。T"oldsquoirewasaone"er。"

"AndImindswhenthesquoirewasborned;mindsitwell,"saidanoldfarmersittingopposite。"Themwasthedays!Itan"tthatlongageneither。Squoirea"ntcomeo"fiftyyet;no,noran"tnighit,thoughhelooksit。ThingsbealteredatGreemsbury"——suchwastheruralpronunciation——"alteredsadly,neeborOaklerath。Well,well;I"llsoonbegone,Iwill,andsoitan"tnousetalking;butarterpayingonepoundfifteenforthemacresformorenorfiftyyear,Ididn"tthinkI"deverbeaxedforfortyshilling。"

Suchwasthestyleofconversationwhichwentonatthevarioustables。Ithadcertainlybeenofaverydifferenttonewhenthesquirewasborn,whenhecameofage,andwhen,justtwoyearssubsequently,hissonhadbeenborn。Oneachoftheseeventssimilarruralfeteshadbeengiven,andthesquirehimselfhadontheseoccasionsbeenfrequentamonghisguests。Onthefirst,hehadbeencarriedroundbyhisfather,awholetrainofladiesandnursesfollowing。Onthesecond,hehadhimselfmixedinallthesports,thegayestofthegay,andeachtenanthadsqueezedhiswayuptothelawntogetasightoftheLadyArabella,who,aswasalreadyknown,wastocomefromCourcyCastletoGreshamsburytobetheirmistress。ItwaslittletheyanyofthemcarednowfortheLadyArabella。Onthethird,hehimselfhadbornehim;hischildinhisarmsashisfatherhadbeforebornehim;hewasinthezenithofhispride,andthoughthetenantryhadwhisperedthathewassomewhatlessfamiliarwiththemthanofyore,thathehadputonsomewhattoomuchoftheDeCourcyairs,stillhewastheirsquire,theirmaster,therichmaninwhosehandtheylay。Theoldsquirewasthengone,andtheywereproudoftheyoungmemberandhisladybrideinspiteofalittlehauteur。Noneofthemwereproudofhimnow。

Hewalkedonceroundamongtheguests,andspokeafewwordsofwelcomeateachtable;andashedidsothetenantsgotupandbowedandwishedhealthtotheoldsquire,happinesstotheyoungone,andprosperitytoGreshamsbury;but,nevertheless,itwasbutatameaffair。

Therewerealsoothervisitors,ofthegentlesort,todohonourtotheoccasion;butnotsuchswarms,notsuchacrowdatthemansionitselfandatthehousesoftheneighbouringgentryashadalwaysbeencollectedontheseformergaladoings。Indeed,thepartyatGreshamsburywasnotalargeone,andconsistedchieflyofLadydeCourcyandhersuite。LadyArabellastillkeptup,asfarasshewasable,hercloseconnexionwithCourcyCastle。Shewasthereasmuchaspossible,towhichMrGreshamneverobjected;andshetookherdaughterstherewhenevershecould,though,asregardedthetwoeldergirls,shewasinterferedwithbyMrGresham,andnotunfrequentlybythegirlsthemselves。LadyArabellahadaprideinherson,thoughhewasbynomeansherfavouritechild。Hewas,however,theheirofGreshamsbury,ofwhichfactshewasdisposedtomakethemost,andhewasalsoafineopen-heartedyoungman,whocouldnotbutbedeartoanymother。LadyArabelladidlovehimdearly,thoughshefeltasortofdisappointmentinregardtohim,seeingthathewasnotsomuchlikeaDeCourcyasheshouldhavebeen。Shedidlovehimdearly;and,therefore,whenhecameofageshegothersister-in-lawandalltheLadiesAmelia,Rosinaetc。tocometoGreshamsbury;andshealso,withsomedifficulty,persuadedtheHonourableGeorgesandtheHonourableJohnstobeequallycondescending。LorddeCourcyhimselfwasinattendanceattheCourt——orsaidthathewas——andLordPorlock,theeldestson,simplytoldhisauntwhenhewasinvitedthatheneverboredhimselfwiththosesortofthings。

ThenthereweretheBakers,andtheBatesons,andtheJacksons,whoalllivednearandreturnedhomeatnight;therewastheReverendCalebOriel,theHigh-Churchrector,withhisbeautifulsisterPatienceOriel;therewasMrYatesUmbleby,theattorneyandagent;andtherewasDrThorne,andthedoctor"smodest,quiet-lookinglittleniece,MissMary。

CHAPTERII

LONG,LONGAGO

AsDrThorneisourhero——orIshouldrathersaymyhero,aprivilegeofselectingforthemselvesinthisrespectbeinglefttoallmyreaders——andasMissMaryThorneistobeourheroine,apointonwhichnochoicewhatsoeverislefttoanyone,itisnecessarythattheyshallbeintroducedandexplainedanddescribedinaproper,formalmanner。Ifeelquiteanapologyisdueforbeginninganovelwithtwolongdullchaptersfullofdescription。Iamperfectlyawareofthedangerofsuchacourse。InsodoingIsinagainstthegoldenrulewhichrequiresusalltoputourbestfootforemost,thewisdomofwhichisfullyrecognizedbynovelists,myselfamongthenumber。Itcanhardlybeexpectedthatanyonewillconsenttogothroughwithafictionthatofferssolittleallurementinitsfirstpages;buttwistitasIwillIcannotdootherwise。IfindthatIcannotmakepoorMrGreshamhemandhawandturnhimselfuneasilyinhisarm-chairinanaturalmannertillIhavesaidwhyheisuneasy。IcannotbringmydoctorspeakinghismindfreelyamongthebigwigstillIhaveexplainedthatitisinaccordancewithhisusualcharactertodoso。Thisisunartisticonmypart,andshowswantofimaginationaswellaswantofskill。WhetherornotIcanatoneforthesefaultsbystraightforward,simple,plainstory-telling——that,indeed,isverydoubtful。

DrThornebelongedtoafamilyinonesenseasgood,andatanyrateasold,asthatofMrGresham;andmucholder,hewasapttoboast,thanthatoftheDeCourcys。Thistraitinhischaracterismentionedfirst,asitwastheweaknessforwhichhewasmostconspicuous。HewassecondcousintoMrThorneofUllathorne,aBarsetshiresquirelivingintheneighbourhoodofBarchester,andwhoboastedthathisestatehadremainedinhisfamily,descendingfromThornetoThorne,longerthanhadbeenthecasewithanyotherestateoranyotherfamilyinthecounty。

ButDrThornewasonlyasecondcousin;and,therefore,thoughhewasentitledtotalkofthebloodasbelongingtosomeextenttohimself,hehadnorighttolayclaimtoanypositioninthecountyotherthansuchashemightwinforhimselfifhechosetolocatehimselfinit。

Thiswasafactofwhichnoonewasmorefullyawarethanourdoctorhimself。

Hisfather,whohadbeenfirstcousinofaformerSquireThorne,hadbeenaclericaldignitaryinBarchester,buthadbeendeadnowmanyyears。Hehadhadtwosons;onehehadeducatedasamedicalman,buttheother,andtheyounger,whomhehadintendedfortheBar,hadnotbetakenhimselfinanysatisfactorywaytoanycalling。ThissonhadbeenfirstrusticatedfromOxford,andthenexpelled;andthencereturningtoBarchester,hadbeenthecausetohisfatherandbrotherofmuchsuffering。

OldDrThorne,theclergyman,diedwhenthetwobrotherswereyetyoungmen,andleftbehindhimnothingbutsomehouseholdandotherpropertyofthevalueofabouttwothousandpounds,whichhebequeathedtoThomas,theelderson,muchmorethanthathavingbeenspentinliquidatingdebtscontractedbytheyounger。UptothattimetherehadbeencloseharmonybetweentheUllathornefamilyandthatoftheclergyman;butamonthortwobeforethedoctor"sdeath——theperiodofwhichwearespeakingwasabouttwo-and-twentyyearsbeforethecommencementofourstory——thethenMrThorneofUllathornehadmadeitunderstoodthathewouldnolongerreceiveathishousehiscousinHenry,whomheregardedasadisgracetothefamily。

Fathersareapttobemorelenienttotheirsonsthanunclestotheirnephews,orcousinstoeachother。DrThornestillhopedtoreclaimhisblacksheep,andthoughtthattheheadofhisfamilyshowedanunnecessaryharshnessinputtinganobstacleinhiswayofdoingso。

Andifthefatherwaswarminsupportofhisprofligateson,theyoungmedicalaspirantwaswarmerinsupportofhisprofligatebrother。DrThorne,junior,wasnorouehimself,butperhaps,asayoungman,hehadnotsufficientabhorrenceofhisbrother"svices。Atanyrate,hestucktohimmanfully;andwhenitwassignifiedintheClosethatHenry"scompanywasnotconsidereddesirableatUllathorne,DrThomasThornesentwordtothesquirethatundersuchcircumstanceshisvisitstherewouldalsocease。

Thiswasnotveryprudent,astheyoungGalenhadelectedtoestablishhimselfinBarchester,verymainlyinexpectationforthehelpwhichhisUllathorneconnexionwouldgivehim。This,however,inhisangerhefailedtoconsider;hewasneverknown,eitherinearlyorinmiddlelife,toconsiderinhisangerthosepointswhichwereprobablybestworthhisconsideration。This,perhaps,wasofthelessmomentashisangerwasofanunenduringkind,evaporatingfrequentlywithmoreceleritythanhecouldgetangrywordsoutofhismouth。WiththeUllathornepeople,however,hedidestablishaquarrelsufficientlypermanenttobeofvitalinjurytohismedicalprospects。

Andthenthefatherdied,andthetwobrotherswereleftlivingtogetherwithverylittlemeansbetweenthem。AtthistimetherewaslivinginBarchester,peopleofthenameofScatcherd。Ofthatfamily,asthenexisting,wehaveonlytodowithtwo,abrotherandasister。

Theywereinalowrankoflife,theonebeingajourneymanstone-mason,andtheotheranapprenticetoastraw-bonnetmaker;buttheywere,nevertheless,insomesortremarkablepeople。ThesisterwasreputedinBarchestertobeamodeloffemalebeautyofthestrongandrobustercast,andhadalsoabetterreputationasbeingagirlofgoodcharacterandhonest,womanlyconduct。Bothofherbeautyandofherreputationherbrotherwasexceedinglyproud,andhewasthemoresowhenhelearntthatshehadbeenaskedinmarriagebyadecentmaster-tradesmaninthecity。

RogerScatcherdhadalsoareputation,butnotforbeautyorproprietyofconduct。Hewasknownforthebeststone-masoninthefourcounties,andasthemanwhocould,onoccasion,drinkthemostalcoholinagiventimeinthesamelocalities。Asaworkman,indeed,hehadhigherreputationeventhanthis:hewasnotonlyagoodandveryquickstone-mason,buthehadalsoacapacityforturningothermenintogoodstone-masons:hehadagiftofknowingwhatamancouldandshoulddo;

and,bydegrees,hetaughthimselfwhatfive,andten,andtwenty——latterly,whatathousandandtwothousandmenmightaccomplishamongthem:this,also,hedidwithverylittleaidfrompenandpaper,withwhichhewasnot,andneverbecame,veryconversant。Hehadalsoothergiftsandotherpropensities。Hecouldtalkinamannerdangeroustohimselfandtoothers;hecouldpersuadewithoutknowingthathedidso;andbeinghimselfanextremedemagogue,inthosenoisytimesjustpriortotheReformBill,hecreatedahubbubinBarchesterofwhichhehimselfhadhadnopreviousconception。

HenryThorneamonghisotherbadqualitieshadonewhichhisfriendsregardedasworsethanalltheothers,andwhichperhapsjustifiedtheUllathornepeopleintheirseverity。Helovedtoconsortwithlowpeople。Henotonlydrankintap-roomswithvulgardrinkers;sosaidhisfriends,andsosaidhisenemies。Hedeniedthechargeasbeingmadeinthepluralnumber,anddeclaredthathisonlylowco-revellerwasRogerScatcherd。WithRogerScatcherd,atanyrate,heassociated,andbecameasdemocraticasRogerhimself。NowtheThornesofUllathornewereoftheveryhighestorderofToryexcellence。

WhetherornotMaryScatcherdatonceacceptedtheofferoftherespectabletradesman,Icannotsay。Aftertheoccurrenceofcertaineventswhichmusthereshortlybetold,shedeclaredthatshehadneverdoneso。Herbrotheraverredthatshemostpositivelyhad。Therespectabletradesmanhimselfrefusedtospeakonthesubject。

Itiscertain,however,thatScatcherd,whohadhithertobeensilentenoughabouthissisterinthosesocialhourswhichhepassedwithhisgentlemanfriend,boastedoftheengagementwhenitwas,ashesaid,made;andthenboastedalsoofthegirl"sbeauty。Scatcherd,inspiteofhisoccasionalintemperance,lookedupintheworld,andthecomingmarriageofhissisterwas,hethought,suitabletohisownambitionforhisfamily。

HenryThornehadalreadyheardof,andalreadyseen,MaryScatcherd;

buthithertoshehadnotfalleninthewayofhiswickedness。Now,however,whenheheardthatshewastobedecentlymarried,thedeviltemptedhimtotempther。Itbootsnottotellallthetale。Itcameoutclearlyenoughwhenallwastold,thathemadehermostdistinctpromisesofmarriage;heevengavehersuchinwriting;andhavinginthiswayobtainedfromherhercompanyduringsomeofherlittleholidays——herSundaysorsummerevenings——heseducedher。Scatcherdaccusedhimopenlyofhavingintoxicatedherwithdrugs;andThomasThorne,whotookupthecase,ultimatelybelievedthecharge。ItbecameknowninBarchesterthatshewaswithchild,andthattheseducerwasHenryThorne。

RogerScatcherd,whenthenewsfirstreachedhim,filledhimselfwithdrink,andthensworethathewouldkillthemboth。Withmanlywrath,however,hesetforth,firstagainsttheman,andthatwithmanlyweapons。HetooknothingwithhimbuthisfistsandabigstickashewentinsearchofHenryThorne。

Thetwobrotherswerethenlodgingtogetheratafarm-housecloseabuttingonthetown。Thiswasnotaneligibleabodeforamedicalpractitioner;buttheyoungdoctorhadnotbeenabletosettlehimselfeligiblysincehisfather"sdeath;andwishingtoputwhatconstrainthecoulduponhisbrother,hadsolocatedhimself。Tothisfarm-housecameRogerScatcherdonesultrysummerevening,hisangergleamingfromhisbloodshoteyes,andhisrageheightenedtomadnessbytherapidpaceatwhichhehadrunfromthecity,andbytheardentspiritswhichwerefermentingwithinhim。

Attheverygateofthefarm-yard,standingplacidlywithhiscigarinhismouth,heencounteredHenryThorne。Hehadthoughtofsearchingforhimthroughthewholepremises,ofdemandinghisvictimwithloudexclamations,andmakinghiswaytohimthroughallobstacles。Inlieuofthat,therestoodthemanbeforehim。

"Well,Roger,what"sinthewind?"saidHenryThorne。

Theywerethelastwordsheeverspoke。Hewasansweredbyablowfromtheblackthorn。Acontestensued;whichendedinScatcherdkeepinghisword——atanyrate,asregardedtheworstoffender。Howthefatalblowonthetemplewasstruckwasneverexactlydetermined;onemedicalmansaiditmighthavebeendoneinafightwithaheavy-headedstick;

anotherthoughtthatastonehadbeenused;athirdsuggestedastone-mason"shammer。Itseemed,however,tobeprovedsubsequentlythatnohammerwastakenout,andScatcherdhimselfpersistedindeclaringthathehadtakeninhishandnoweaponbutthestick。

Scatcherd,however,wasdrunk;andeventhoughheintendedtotellthetruth,mayhavebeenmistaken。Therewere,however,thefactsthatThornewasdead;thatScatcherdhadsworntokillhimaboutanhourpreviously;andthathehadwithoutdelayaccomplishedthethreat。Hewasarrestedandtriedwithmurder,allthedistressingcircumstancesofthecasecameoutonthetrial:hewasfoundguiltyofman-slaughter,andsentencedtobeimprisonedforsixmonths。Ourreaderswillprobablythinkthatthepunishmentwastoosevere。

ThomasThorneandthefarmerwereonthespotsoonafterHenryThornehadfallen。Thebrotherwasatfirstfuriousforvengeanceagainsthisbrother"smurderer;but,asthefactscameout,ashelearntwhathadbeentheprovocationgiven,whathadbeenthefeelingsofScatcherdwhenheleftthecity,determinedtopunishhimwhohadruinedhissister,hisheartwaschanged。Thoseweretryingdaysforhim。Itbehovedhimtodowhatinhimlaytocoverhisbrother"smemoryfromtheobloquywhichitdeserved;itbehovedhimalsotosave,ortoassisttosave,fromunduepunishmenttheunfortunatemanwhohadshedhisbrother"sblood;anditbehovedhimalso,atleastsohethought,tolookafterthatpoorfallenonewhosemisfortuneswerelessmeritedthanthoseeitherofhisbrotherorofhers。

Andhewasnotthemantogetthroughthesethingslightly,orwithasmucheaseasheperhapsmightconscientiouslyhavedone。Hewouldpayforthedefenceoftheprisoner;hewouldpayforthedefenceofhisbrother"smemory;andhewouldpayforthepoorgirl"scomforts。Hewoulddothis,andhewouldallownoonetohelphim。Hestoodaloneintheworld,andinsistedonsostanding。OldMrThorneofUllathorneofferedagaintoopenhisarmstohim;buthehadconceivedafoolishideathathiscousin"sseverityhaddrivenhisbrotherontohisbadcareer,andhewouldconsequentlyacceptnokindnessfromUllathorne。

MissThorne,theoldsquire"sdaughter——acousinconsiderablyolderthanhimself,towhomhehadatonetimebeenmuchattached——senthimmoney;andhereturnedittoherunderablankcover。Hehadstillenoughforthoseunhappypurposeswhichhehadinhand。Astowhatmighthappenafterwards,hewasthenmainlyindifferent。

Theaffairmademuchnoiseinthecounty,andwasinquiredintocloselybymanyofthecountymagistrates;bynonemorecloselythanbyJohnNewboldGresham,withtheenergyandjusticeshownbyDrThorneontheoccasion;andwhenthetrialwasover,heinvitedhimtoGreshamsbury。

Thevisitendedinthedoctorestablishinghimselfinthevillage。

WemustreturnforamomenttoMaryScatcherd。Shewassavedfromthenecessityofencounteringherbrother"swrath,forthatbrotherwasunderarrestformurderbeforehecouldgetather。Herimmediatelot,however,wasacruelone。Deepaswashercauseforangeragainstthemanwhohadsoinhumanlyusedher,stillitwasnaturalthatsheshouldturntohimwithloveratherthanwithaversion。Towhomelsecouldsheinsuchplightlookforlove?When,therefore,sheheardthathewasslain,herheartsankwithinher;sheturnedherfacetothewall,andlaidherselfdowntodie;todieadoubledeath,forherselfandthefatherlessbabethatwasnowquickwithinher。

But,infact,lifehadstillmuchtooffer,bothtoherandherchild。

Forheritwasstilldestinedthatsheshould,inadistantland,betheworthywifeofagoodhusband,andthehappymotherofmanychildren。Forthatembryooneitwasdestined——butthatmaynotbesoquicklytold:todescribeherdestinythisvolumehasyettobewritten。

EveninthosebitterestdaysGodtemperedthewindtotheshornlamb。

DrThornewasbyherbedsidesoonafterthebloodytidingshadreachedher,anddidforhermorethaneitherherloverorherbrothercouldhavedone。Whenthebabywasborn,Scatcherdwasstillinprison,andhadstillthreemonths"moreconfinementtoundergo。Thestoryofhergreatwrongsandcruelusageasmuchtalkedof,andmensaidthatonewhohadbeensoinjuredshouldberegardedashavinginnowisesinnedatall。

Oneman,atanyrate,sothought。Attwilight,oneevening,ThornewassurprisedbyavisitfromademureBarchesterhardwaredealer,whomhedidnotrememberevertohaveaddressedbefore。ThiswastheformerloverofthepoorMaryScatcherd。Hehadaproposaltomakeanditwasthis:——ifMarywouldconsenttoleavethecountryatonce,toleaveitwithoutnoticefromherbrother,ortalkoreclatonthematter,hewouldsellallthathehad,marryher,andemigrate。Therewasbutonecondition;shemustleaveherbabybehindher。Thehardware-mancouldfinditinhishearttobegenerous,tobegenerousandtruetohislove;buthecouldnotbegenerousenoughtofathertheseducer"schild。

"Icouldneverabideit,sir,ifItookit,"saidhe;"andshe,——whyincourseshewouldalwaysloveitthebest。"

Inpraisinghisgenerosity,whocanmingleanycensureforsuchmanifestprudence?Hewouldstillmakeherthewifeofhisbosom,defiledintheeyesoftheworldasshehadbeen;butshemustbetohimthemotherofhisownchildren,notthemotherofanother"schild。

Andnowagainourdoctorhadahardtasktowinthrough。Hesawatoncethatitwashisdutytousehisutmostauthoritytoinducethepoorgirltoacceptsuchanoffer。Shelikedtheman;andherewasopenedtoheracoursewhichwouldhavebeenmostdesirable,evenbeforehermisfortune。Butitishardtopersuadeamothertopartwithherfirstbabe;harder,perhaps,whenthebabehadbeensofatheredandsobornthanwhentheworldhasshonebrightlyonitsearliesthours。Sheatfirstrefusedstoutly:shesentathousandloves,athousandthanks,profusestacknowledgementsforhisgenerositytothemanwhoshowedherthathelovedhersowell;butNature,shesaid,wouldnotletherleaveherchild。

"Andwhatwillyoudoforherhere,Mary?"saidthedoctor。PoorMaryrepliedtohimwithadelugeoftears。

"Sheismyniece,"saidthedoctor,takingupthetinyinfantinhishugehands;"sheisalreadythenearestthing,theonlythingthatI

haveintheworld。Iamheruncle,Mary。IfyouwillgowiththismanIwillbefathertoherandmothertoher。OfwhatbreadIeat,sheshalleat;ofwhatcupIdrink,sheshalldrink。See,Mary,hereistheBible;"andhecoveredthebookwithhishand,"Leavehertome,andbythiswordsheshallbemychild。"

Themotherconsentedatlast;leftherbabywiththedoctor,married,andwenttoAmerica。AllthiswasconsummatedbeforeRogerScatcherdwasliberatedfromjail。Someconditionsthedoctormade。Thefirstwas,thatScatcherdshouldnotknowhissister"schildwasthusdisposedof。DrThorne,inundertakingtobringupthebaby,didnotchoosetoencounteranygirl"srelationsontheotherside。Relationsshewouldundoubtedlyhavehadnonehadshebeenlefttoliveordieasaworkhousebastard;butshouldthedoctorsucceedinlife,shouldheultimatelybeabletomakethisgirlthedarlingofhisownhouse,andthenthedarlingofsomeotherhouse,shouldsheliveandwintheheartofsomemanwhomthedoctormightdelighttocallhisfriendandnephew;thenrelationsmightspringupwhosetieswouldnotadvantageous。

NomanplumedhimselfongoodbloodmorethanDrThorne;nomanhadgreaterprideinhisgenealogicaltree,andhishundredandthirtyclearlydescendantfromMacAdam;nomanhadastrongertheoryastotheadvantageheldbymenwhohavegrandfathersoverthosewhohavenone,orhavenoneworthtalkingabout。Letitnotbethoughtthatourdoctorwasaperfectcharacter。No,indeed;mostfarfromperfect。Hehadwithinhimaninner,stubborn,self-admiringpride,whichmadehimbelievehimselftobebetterandhigherthanthosearoundhim,andthisfromsomeunknowncausewhichhecouldhardlyexplaintohimself。Hehadaprideinbeingapoormanofahighfamily;hehadaprideinrepudiatingtheveryfamilyofwhichhewasproud;andhehadaspecialprideinkeepinghispridesilentlytohimself。HisfatherhadbeenaThorne,hismotheraThorold。TherewasnobetterbloodtobehadinEngland。Itwasinthepossessionofsuchpropertiesasthesethathecondescendedtorejoice;thisman,withaman"sheart,aman"scourage,andaman"shumanity!Otherdoctorsroundthecountyhadditch-waterintheirveins;hecouldboastofapureichor,towhichthatofthegreatOmniumfamilywasbutamuddypuddle。Itwasthusthathelovedtoexcelhisbrotherpractitioners,hewhomighthaveindulgedintheprideofexcellingthembothintalentandinenergy!Wespeaknowofhisearlydays;buteveninhismaturerlife,theman,thoughmellowed,wasthesame。

Thiswasthemanwhonowpromisedtotaketohisbosomashisownchildapoorbastardwhosefatherwasalreadydead,andwhosemother"sfamilywassuchastheScatcherds!Itwasnecessarythatthechild"shistoryshouldbeknowntonone。Excepttothemother"sbrotheritwasanobjectofinteresttonoone。Themotherhadforsomeshorttimebeentalkedof;butnowthatthenine-days"wonderwasawondernolonger。

Shewentofftoherfar-awayhome;herhusband"sgenerositywasdulychronicledinthepapers,andthebabewasleftuntalkedofandunknown。

ItwaseasytoexplaintoScatcherdthatthechildhadnotlived。Therewasapartinginterviewbetweenthebrotherandsisterinthejail,duringwhichwithrealtearsandunaffectedsorrow,themotherthusaccountedfortheoffspringofhershame。Thenshestarted,fortunateinhercomingfortunes;andthedoctortookwithhimhischargetothenewcountryinwhichtheywerebothtolive。Therehefoundforherafittinghometillsheshouldbeoldenoughtositathistableandliveinhisbachelorhouse;andnoonebutoldMrGreshamknewwhoshewas,orwhenceshehadcome。

ThenRogerScatcherd,havingcompletedhissixmonths"confinement,cameoutofprison。

RogerScatcherd,thoughhishandswerenowredwithblood,wastobepitied。AshorttimebeforethedaysofHenryThorne"sdeathhehadmarriedayoungwifeinhisownclassoflife,andhadmademanyresolvesthathenceforwardhisconductshouldbesuchasmightbecomeamarriedman,andmightnotdisgracetherespectablebrother-in-lawhewasabouttohavegivenhimsuchwashisconditionwhenhefirstheardofhissister"splight。Ashasbeensaid,hefilledhimselfwithdrinkandstartedoffonthescentofblood。

Duringhisprisondayshiswifehadtosupportherselfasshemight。

Thedecentarticlesoffurniturewhichtheyhadputtogetherweresold;

shegaveuptheirlittlehouse,and,boweddownbymisery,shealsowasbroughtneartodeath。Whenhewasliberatedheatoncegotwork;butthosewhohavewatchedthelivesofsuchpeopleknowhowharditisforthemtorecoverlostground。Shebecameamotherimmediatelyafterhisliberation,andwhenherchildwasborntheywereindirestwant;forScatcherdwasagaindrinking,andhisresolveswereblowntothewind。

ThedoctorwasthenlivingatGreshamsbury。HehadgoneovertherebeforethedayonwhichheundertookthechargeofpoorMary"sbaby,andsoonfoundhimselfsettledastheGreshamsburydoctor。Thisoccurredverysoonafterthebirthoftheyoungheir。Hispredecessorinthiscareerhad"bettered"himself,orendeavouredtodoso,byseekingthepracticeofsomelargetown,andLadyArabella,ataverycriticaltime,wasabsolutelyleftwithnootheradvicethanthatofastranger,pickedup,asshedeclaredtoLadydeCourcy,somewherebetweenBarchesterjail,orBarchestercourt-house,shedidnotknowwhich。

OfcourseLadyArabellacouldnotsuckletheyoungheirherself。LadiesArabellanevercan。Theyaregiftedwiththepowersofbeingmothers,butnotnursing-mothers。Naturegivesthembosomsforshow,butnotforuse。SoLadyArabellahadawet-nurse。AttheendofsixmonthsthenewdoctorfoundMasterFrankwasnotdoingquitesowellasheshoulddo;andafteralittletroubleitwasdiscoveredthattheveryexcellentyoungwomanwhohadbeensentexpressfromCourcyCastletoGreshamsbury——asupplybeingkeptuponthelord"sdemesneforthefamilyuse——wasfondofbrandy。Shewasatoncesentbacktothecastle,ofcourse;and,asLadydeCourcywastoomuchindudgeontosendanother,DrThornewasallowedtoprocureone。HethoughtofthemiseryofRogerScatcherd"swife,thoughalsoofherhealthandstrength,andactivehabits;andthusMrsScatcherdbecamethefoster-mothertoyoungGresham。

Oneotherepisodewemusttellofpasttimes。Previoustohisfather"sdeath,DrThornewasinlove。Norhadhealtogethersighedandpleadedinvain;thoughithadnotquitecometothat,theyounglady"sfriends,oreventheyoungladyherself,hadactuallyacceptedhissuit。AtthattimehisnamestoodwellinBarchester。Hisfatherwasaprebendary;hiscousinsandhisbestfriendsweretheThornesofUllathorne,andthelady,whoshallbenameless,wasnotthoughttobeinjudiciousinlisteningtotheyoungdoctor。ButwhenHenryThornewentsofarastray,whentheolddoctordied,whentheyoungdoctorquarrelledwithUllathorne,whenthebrotherwaskilledinadisgracefulquarrel,anditturnedoutthatthephysicianhadnothingbuthisprofessionandnosettledlocalityinwhichtoexerciseit;

then,indeed,theyounglady"sfriendsthoughtthatshewasinjudicious,andtheyoungladyherselfhadnotspiritenough,orloveenough,tobedisobedient。InthosestormydaysofthetrialshetoldDrThorne,thatperhapsitwouldbewisethattheyshouldnotseeeachotheranymore。

DrThorne,socounselled,atsuchamoment,——soinformedthen,whenhemostrequiredcomfortfromhislove,atoncesworeloudlythatheagreedwithher。Herushedforthwithaburstingheart,andsaidtohimselfthattheworldwasbad,allbad。Hesawtheladynomore;and,ifIamrightlyinformed,neveragainmadematrimonialoverturestoanyone。

CHAPTERIII

DRTHORNE

AndthusDrThornebecamesettledforlifeinthelittlevillageofGreshamsbury。Aswasthenthewontwithmanycountrypractitioners,andasshouldbethewontwiththemalliftheyconsultedtheirowndignityalittlelessandthecomfortsoftheircustomerssomewhatmore,headdedthebusinessofadispensingapothecarytothatofaphysician。Indoingso,hewasofcoursemuchreviled。Manypeoplearoundhimdeclaredthathecouldnottrulybeadoctor,or,atanyrate,adoctortobesocalled;andhisbrethrenintheartlivingroundhim,thoughtheyknewthathisdiplomas,degrees,andcertificateswereallenregle,rathercountenancedthereport。Therewasmuchaboutthisnew-comerwhichdidnotendearhimtohisownprofession。Inthefirstplacehewasanew-comer,and,assuch,wasofcoursetoberegardedbyotherdoctorsasbeingdetrop。

GreshamsburywasonlyfifteenmilesfromBarchester,wheretherewasaregulardepotofmedicalskill,andbuteightfromSilverbridge,whereaproperlyestablishedphysicianhadbeeninresidenceforthelastfortyyears。DrThorne"spredecessoratGreshamsburyhadbeenahumble-mindedgeneralpractitioner,giftedwithaduerespectforthephysiciansofthecounty;andhe,thoughhehadbeenallowedtophysictheservants,andsometimesthechildrenofGreshamsbury,hadneverhadthepresumptiontoputhimselfonaparwithhisbetters。

Thenalso,DrThorne,thoughagraduatedphysician,thoughentitledbeyondalldisputetocallhimselfadoctor,accordingtoallthelawsofthecolleges,madeitknowntotheEastBarsetshireworld,verysoonafterhehadseatedhimselfatGreshamsbury,thathisrateofpaywastobeseven-and-sixpenceavisitwithinacircuitoffivemiles,withaproportionallyincreasedchargeatproportionallyincreaseddistances。

Nowtherewassomethinglow,mean,unprofessional,anddemocraticinthis;so,atleast,saidthechildrenofAEsculapiusgatheredtogetherinconclaveatBarchester。Inthefirstplace,itshowedthatthisThornewasalwaysthinkingofhismoney,likeanapothecary,ashewas;

whereas,itwouldhavebehovedhim,asaphysician,hadhehadthefeelingsofaphysicianunderhishat,tohaveregardedhisownpursuitsinapurelyphilosophicalspirit,andtohavetakenanygainwhichmighthaveaccruedasanaccidentaladjuncttohisstationinlife。Aphysicianshouldtakehisfeewithoutlettinghislefthandknowwhathisrighthandwasdoing;itshouldbetakenwithoutathought,withoutalook,withoutamoveofthefacialmuscles;thetruephysicianshouldhardlybeawarethatthelastfriendlygraspofthehandhadbeenmorepreciousbythetouchofgold。Whereas,thatfellowThornewouldlugouthalfacrownfromhisbreechespocketandgiveitinchangeforatenshillingpiece。Andthenitwasclearthatthismanhadnoappreciationofthedignityofalearnedprofession。Hemightconstantlybeseencompoundingmedicinesintheshop,atthelefthandofhisfrontdoor;notmakingexperimentsphilosophicallyinmaterialsmedicaforthebenefitofcomingages——which,ifhedid,heshouldhavedoneintheseclusionofhisstudy,farfromprofaneeyes——butpositivelyputtingtogethercommonpowdersforruralbowels,orspreadingvulgarointmentsforagriculturalailments。

AmanofthissortwasnotfitforsocietyforDrFillgraveofBarchester。Thatmustbeadmitted。AndyethehadbeenfoundtobefitsocietyfortheoldsquireofGreshamsbury,whoseshoe-ribbonsDrFillgravewouldnothaveobjectedtotie;sohighdidtheoldsquirestandinthecountyjustprevioustohisdeath。ButthespiritoftheLadyArabellawasknownbythemedicalprofessionofBarsetshire,andwhenthatgoodmandieditwasfeltthatThorne"sshorttenureofGreshamsburyfavourwasalreadyover。TheBarsetshireregularswere,however,doomedtodisappointment。Ourdoctorhadalreadycontrivedtoendearhimselftotheheir;andthoughtherewasnotevenmuchpersonallovebetweenhimandtheLadyArabella,hekepthisplaceatthegreathouseunmoved,notonlyinthenurseryandinthebedrooms,butalsoatthesquire"sdining-table。

Nowtherewasinthis,itmustbeadmitted,quiteenoughtomakehimunpopularwithhisbrethren;andthisfeelingwassoonshowninamarkedanddignifiedmanner。DrFillgrave,whohadcertainlythemostrespectableprofessionalconnexioninthecounty,whohadareputationtomaintain,andwhowasaccustomedtomeet,onalmostequalterms,thegreatmedicalbaronetsfromthemetropolisatthehousesofthenobility——DrFillgravedeclinedtomeetDrThorneinconsultation。Heexceedinglyregretted,hesaid,mostexceedingly,thenecessityhefeltofdoingso:hehadneverbeforehadtoperformsopainfuladuty;but,asadutywhichheowedtohisprofession,hemustperformit。WitheveryfeelingofrespectofLady-,——asickguestatGreshamsbury,——andforMrGresham,hemustdeclinetoattendinconjunctionwithDrThorne。Ifhisservicescouldbemadeavailableunderanyothercircumstances,hewouldgotoGreshamsburyasfastaspost-horsescouldcarryhim。

Then,indeed,therewaswarinBarsetshire。IftherewasonDrThorne"scraniumonebumpmoredevelopedthananother,itwasthatofcombativeness。Notthatthedoctorwasabully,orevenpugnacious,intheusualsenseoftheword;hehadnodispositiontoprovokeafight,nopropenseloveofquarrelling;buttherewasthatinhimwhichwouldallowhimtoyieldtonoattack。Neitherinargumentnorincontestwouldheeverallowhimselftobewrong;neveratleasttoanyonebuthimself;andonbehalfofhisspecialhobbies,hewasreadytomeettheworldatlarge。

Itwillthereforebeunderstood,thatwhensuchagauntletwasthusthrowninhisveryteethbyDrFillgrave,hewasnotslowtotakeitup。HeaddressedalettertotheBarsetshireConservativeStandard,inwhichheattackedDrFillgravewithsomeconsiderableacerbity。DrFillgraverespondedinfourlines,sayingthatonmatureconsiderationhehadmadeuphismindnottonoticeanyremarksthatmightbemadeonhimbyDrThorneinthepublicpress。TheGreshamsburydoctorthenwroteanotherletter,morewittyandmuchmoreseverethanthelast;

andasthiswascopiedintotheBristol,Exeter,andGloucesterpapers,DrFillgravefounditverydifficulttomaintainthemagnanimityofhisreticence。ItissometimesbecomingenoughforaMediterraneantowraphimselfinthedignifiedtogaofsilence,andproclaimhimselfindifferenttopublicattacks;butitisasortofdignitywhichitisverydifficulttomaintain。Aswellmightaman,whenstungtomadnessbywasps,endeavourtositinhischairwithoutmovingamuscle,asendurewithpatienceandwithoutreplythecourtesiesofanewspaperopponent。DrThornewroteathirdletterwhichwastoomuchformedicalfleshandbloodtobear。DrFillgraveansweredit,not,indeed,inhisownname,butinthatofabrotherdoctor;andthenthewarragedmerrily。ItishardlytoomuchtosaythatDrFillgraveneverknewanotherhappyhour。HadhedreamedofwhatmaterialswasmadethatyoungcompounderofdosesatGreshamsburyhewouldhavemethiminconsultation,morning,noon,andnight,withoutobjection;buthavingbegunthewar,hewasconstrainedtogoonwithit:hisbrethrenwouldallowhimnoalternative。Thushewascontinuallybeingbroughtuptothefight,asaprize-fightermaybeseentobe,whoiscarrieduproundafterround,withoutanyhopeonhisownpart,andwho,ineachround,dropstothegroundbeforetheverywindofhisopponent"sblows。

ButDrFillgrave,thoughthusweakhimself,wasbackedinpracticeandincountenancebynearlyallhisbrethreninthecounty。Theguineafee,theprincipleofgivingadviceandofsellingnomedicine,thegreatresolvetokeepadistinctbarrierbetweenthephysicianandtheapothecary,and,aboveall,thehatredofthecontaminationofabill,werestronginthemedicalmindofBarsetshire。DrThornehadtheprovincialmedicalworldagainsthim,andsoheappealedtothemetropolis。TheLancettookthematterupinhisfavour,buttheJournalofMedicalSciencewasagainsthim;theWeeklyChirurgeon,notedforitsmedicaldemocracy,upheldhimasamedicalprophet,buttheScalpingKnife,amonthlyperiodicalgotupindeadoppositiontotheLancet,showedhimnomercy。Sothewarwenton,andourdoctor,toacertainextent,becameanotedcharacter。

Hehad,moreover,otherdifficultiestoencounterinhisprofessionalcareer。Itwassomethinginhisfavourthatheunderstoodhisbusiness;somethingthathewaswillingtolabouratitwithenergy;

andresolvedtolabouratitconscientiously。Hehadalsoothergifts,suchasconversationalbrilliancy,andaptitudefortruegoodfellowship,firmnessinfriendship,andgeneralhonestyofdisposition,whichstoodhiminsteadasheadvancedinlife。But,athisfirststarting,muchthatbelongedtohimselfpersonallywasagainsthim。Lethimenterwhathousehewould,heentereditwithaconviction,oftenexpressedtohimself,thathewasequalasamantotheproprietor,equalasahumanbeingtotheproprietress。Toagehewouldallowdeference,andtospecialrecognizedtalent——atleastsohesaid;torankalso,hewouldpaythatrespectwhichwasitsclearandrecognizedprerogative;hewouldletalordwalkoutofaroombeforehimifhedidnothappentoforgetit;inspeakingtoadukehewouldaddresshimasHisGrace;andhewouldinnowayassumeafamiliaritywithbiggermenthanhimself,allowingtothebiggermantheprivilegeofmakingthefirstadvances。Butbeyondthishewouldadmitthatnomanshouldwalktheearthwithhisheadhigherthanhisown。

Hedidnottalkofthesethingsmuch;heoffendednorankbyboastsofhisownequality;hedidnotabsolutelytelltheEarldeCourcyinwords,thattheprivilegeofdiningatCourcyCastlewastohimnogreaterthantheprivilegeofdiningatCourcyParsonage;buttherewasthatinhismannerthattoldit。Thefeelinginitselfwasperhapsgood,andwascertainlymuchjustifiedbythemannerinwhichheborehimselftothosebelowhiminrank;buttherewasfollyintheresolutiontoruncountertotheworld"srecognizedrulesonsuchmatters;andmuchabsurdityinhismodeofdoingso,seeingthatathearthewasathoroughConservative。Itishardlytoomuchtosaythathenaturallyhatedalordatfirstsight;but,nevertheless,hewouldhaveexpendedhismeans,hisblood,andspirit,infightingfortheupperhouseofParliament。

Suchadisposition,untilitwasthoroughlyunderstood,didnottendtoingratiatehimwiththewivesofthecountrygentlemenamongwhomhehadtolookforpractice。Andthen,also,therewasnotmuchinhisindividualmannertorecommendhimtothefavourofladies。Hewasbrusque,authoritative,giventocontradiction,roughthoughneverdirtyinhispersonalbelongings,andinclinedtoindulgeinasortofquietraillery,whichsometimeswasnotthoroughlyunderstood。Peopledidnotalwaysknowwhetherhewaslaughingatthemorwiththem;andsomepeoplewere,perhaps,inclinedtothinkthatadoctorshouldnotlaughatallwhencalledintoactdoctorially。

Whenhewasknown,indeed,whenthecoreofthefruithadbeenreached,whenthehugeproportionofthatlovingtrustinghearthadbeenlearned,andunderstood,andappreciated,whenthathonestyhadbeenrecognized,thatmanly,almostwomanlytendernesshadbeenfelt,then,indeed,thedoctorwasacknowledgedtobeadequateinhisprofession。

Totriflingailmentshewastoooftenbrusque。Seeingthatheacceptedmoneyforthecureofsuch,heshould,wemaysay,havecuredthemwithoutanoffensivemanner。Sofarheiswithoutdefence。Buttorealsufferingnoonefoundhimbrusque;nopatientlyingpainfullyonabedofsicknesseverthoughthimrough。

Anothermisfortunewas,thathewasabachelor。Ladiesthink,andI,forone,thinkthatladiesarequiterightinsothinking,thatdoctorsshouldbemarriedmen。Alltheworldfeelsthatamanwhenmarriedacquiressomeoftheattributesoftheoldwoman——hebecomes,toacertainextent,amotherlysortofbeing;heacquiresaconversancewithwomen"swaysandwomen"swants,andlosesthewilderandoffensivesparksofhisvirility。ItmustbeeasiertotalktosuchaoneaboutMatilda"sstomach,andthegrowingpainsinFanny"slegs,thantoayoungbachelor。ThisimpedimentalsostoodmuchinDrThorne"swayduringhisfirstyearsatGreshamsbury。

Buthiswantswerenotatfirstgreat;andthoughhisambitionwasperhapshigh,itwasnotofanimpatientnature。Theworldwashisoyster;but,circumstancedashewas,heknewthatitwasnotforhimtoopenitwithhislancetallatonce。Hehadbreadtoearn,whichhemustearnwearily;hehadacharactertomake,whichmustcomeslowly;

itsatisfiedhissoul,thatinadditiontohisimmortalhopes,hehadapossiblefutureinthisworldtowhichhecouldlookforwardwithcleareyes,andadvancewithhisheartthatwouldknownofainting。

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