I daresay theres more things than music gets talked of at the singing, said Tozer, thus appealed to. But shed do a deal better if shed try to improve her mind than take notice what the young fellows says.
Oh, Pa, the idea! and before Mr. Vincent too, cried Phoebe to think I should ever dream of listening to anything that anybody might choose to say!
Vincent, to whom the eyes of the whole family turned, grinned a feeble smile, but, groaning in his mind, was totally unequal to the effort of saying anything. After a moments pause of half-disappointed expectation, Phœbe disappeared to take off her bonnet; and Mrs. Tozer, bestirring herself, cleared away the desk and books, and went into the kitchen to inquire into the supper. The minister and the deacon were accordingly left alone.
Three more pews applied for this week fifteen sittings in all, said Mr. Tozer; thats what I call satisfactory, that is. We mustnt let the steam go down not on no account. You keep well at them of Sundays, Mr. Vincent, and trust to the managers, sir, to keep em up to their dooty. Me and Mr. Tufton was consulting the other day. He says as we oughtnt to spare you, and you oughtnt to spare yourself. There hasnt been such a opening not in our connection for fifteen year. We all look to you to go into it, Mr. Vincent. If all goes as I expect, and you keep up as youre doing, I see no reason why we shouldnt be able to put another fifty to the salary next year.
Oh! said poor Vincent, with a miserable face. He had been rather pleased to hear about the opening, but this matter-of-fact encouragement and stimulus threw him back into dismay and disgust.
Yes, said the deacon, though I wouldnt advise you, as a young man settin out in life, to calculate upon it, yet we all think it more than likely; but if you was to ask my advice, Id say to give it em a little more plain meaning the Church folks. Its expected of a new man. Id touch em up in the State-Church line, Mr. Vincent, if I was you. Give us a coorse upon the anomalies, and that sort of thing the bishops in their palaces, and the fisherman as was the start of it all; theres a deal to be done in that way. It always tells; and my opinion is as you might secure the most part of the young men and thinkers, and them as can see whats what, if you lay it on pretty strong. Not, added the deacon, remembering in time to add that necessary salve to the conscience not as I would have you neglect whats more important; but, after all, what is more important, Mr. Vincent, than freedom of opinion and choosing your own religious teacher? You cant put gospel truth in a mans mind till youve freed him out of them bonds. It stands to reason as long as he believes just what hes told, and has it all made out for him the very words hes to pray, there may be feelin, sir, but there cant be no spiritual understandin in that man.
Well, one cant deny that there have been enlightened men in the Church of England, said the young Nonconformist, with lofty candour. The inconsistencies of the human mind are wonderful; and it is coming to be pretty clearly understood in the intellectual world, that a man may show the most penetrating genius, and even the widest liberality, and yet be led a willing slave in the bonds of religious rite and ceremony. One cannot understand it, it is true; but in our clearer atmosphere we are bound to exercise Christian charity. Great as the advantages are on our side of the question, I would not willingly hurt the feelings of a sincere Churchman, who, for anything I know, may be the best of men.
Mr. Tozer paused with a humph! of uncertainty; rather
said poor Vincent, with a faint smile; then, turning to his deacon, he plunged into the first subject that occurred to him. Do you know a Mrs. Hilyard in Back Grove Street? asked the young minister. I went to see her the other day. Who is she, or where does she belong to, can you tell me? and which of your great ladies in Carlingford is it, he added, with a little catching of his breath after a momentary pause, who visits that poor lady? I saw a carriage at her door.
Meaning the poor woman at the back of the chapel? said Tozer I dont know nothing of her, except that I visited there, sir, as you might do, in the way of dooty. Ah! I fear shes in the gall of bitterness, Mr. Vincent; she didnt take my umble advice, sir, not as a Christian ought. But she comes to the chapel regular enough; and you may be the means of putting better thoughts into her mind; and as for our great ladies in Carlingford, continued Mr. Tozer, with the air of an authority, never a one of them, I give you my word, would go out of her way a-visiting to one of the chapel folks. Theyre a deal too bigoted for that, especially them at St. Roques.
Oh, Pa, how can you say so, cried Phœbe, when its very well known the ladies go everywhere, where the people are very, very poor? but then Mr. Vincent said a poor lady . Was it a nice carriage? The Miss Wodehouses always walk, and so does Mrs. Glen, and all the Strangeways. Oh, I know, it was the young Dowager that pretty, pretty lady, you know, mamma, that gives the grand parties, and lives in Grange Lane. I saw her carriage going up the lane by the chapel once. Oh, Mr. Vincent, wasnt she very, very pretty, with blue eyes and brown hair?