MIDDLEMARCH (Completed)

Chapter 52

"His heart

The lowliest duties on itself did lay."

--WORDSWORTH.

On that June evening when Mr. Farebrother knew that he was to have

the Lowick living, there was joy in the old fashioned parlor,

and even the portraits of the great lawyers seemed to look on

with satisfaction. His mother left her tea and toast untouched,

but sat with her usual pretty primness, only showing her emotion by

that flush in the cheeks and brightness in the eyes which give an old

woman a touching momentary identity with her far-off youthful self,

and saying decisively--

"The greatest comfort, Camden, is that you have deserved it."

"When a man gets a good berth, mother, half the deserving must

come after," said the son, brimful of pleasure, and not trying

to conceal it. The gladness in his face was of that active kind

which seems to have energy enough not only to flash outwardly,

but to light up busy vision within: one seemed to see thoughts,

as well as delight, in his glances.

"Now, aunt," he went on, rubbing his hands and looking at Miss Noble,

who was making tender little beaver-like noises, "There shall

be sugar-candy always on the table for you to steal and give

to the children, and you shall have a great many new stockings

to make presents of, and you shall darn your own more than ever!"

Miss Noble nodded at her nephew with a subdued half-frightened laugh,

conscious of having already dropped an additional lump of sugar

into her basket on the strength of the new preferment.

"As for you, Winny"--the Vicar went on--"I shall make no difficulty

about your marrying any Lowick bachelor--Mr. Solomon Featherstone,

for example, as soon as I find you are in love with him."

Miss Winifred, who had been looking at her brother all the while

and crying heartily, which was her way of rejoicing, smiled through

her tears and said, "You must set me the example, Cam: _you_

must marry now."

"With all my heart. But who is in love with me? I am a seedy

old fellow," said the Vicar, rising, pushing his chair away

and looking down at himself. "What do you say, mother?"

"You are a handsome man, Camden: though not so fine a figure

of a man as your father," said the old lady.

"I wish you would marry Miss Garth, brother," said Miss Winifred.

"She would make us so lively at Lowick."

"Very fine! You talk as if young women were tied up to be chosen,