MIDDLEMARCH (Completed)

Chapter 53

It is but a shallow haste which concludeth insincerity from

what outsiders call inconsistency--putting a dead mechanism

of "ifs" and "therefores" for the living myriad of hidden

suckers whereby the belief and the conduct are wrought into

mutual sustainment.

Mr. Bulstrode, when he was hoping to acquire a new interest in Lowick,

had naturally had an especial wish that the new clergyman should be one

whom he thoroughly approved; and he believed it to be a chastisement

and admonition directed to his own shortcomings and those of the nation

at large, that just about the time when he came in possession of the

deeds which made him the proprietor of Stone Court, Mr. Farebrother

"read himself" into the quaint little church and preached his first

sermon to the congregation of farmers, laborers, and village artisans.

It was not that Mr. Bulstrode intended to frequent Lowick Church

or to reside at Stone Court for a good while to come: he had

bought the excellent farm and fine homestead simply as a retreat

which he might gradually enlarge as to the land and beautify as

to the dwelling, until it should be conducive to the divine glory

that he should enter on it as a residence, partially withdrawing

from his present exertions in the administration of business,

and throwing more conspicuously on the side of Gospel truth the weight

of local landed proprietorship, which Providence might increase by

unforeseen occasions of purchase. A strong leading in this direction

seemed to have been given in the surprising facility of getting

Stone Court, when every one had expected that Mr. Rigg Featherstone

would have clung to it as the Garden of Eden. That was what poor

old Peter himself had expected; having often, in imagination,

looked up through the sods above him, and, unobstructed by.

perspective, seen his frog-faced legatee enjoying the fine

old place to the perpetual surprise and disappointment of other survivors.

But how little we know what would make paradise for our neighbors!

We judge from our own desires, and our neighbors themselves

are not always open enough even to throw out a hint of theirs.

The cool and judicious Joshua Rigg had not allowed his parent

to perceive that Stone Court was anything less than the chief good

in his estimation, and he had certainly wished to call it his own.

But as Warren Hastings looked at gold and thought of buying Daylesford,

so Joshua Rigg looked at Stone Court and thought of buying gold.