Itappearstousaquestionwhetheranyclergymancangothroughourchurchservicewithdecorum，morningaftermorning，inanimmensebuilding，surroundedbynotmorethanadozenlisteners。Thebestactorscannotactwellbeforeemptybenches，andthoughthereis，ofcourse，ahighermotiveinonecasethantheother，stilleventhebestofclergymencannotbutbeinfluencedbytheiraudience；andtoexpectthatadutyshouldbewelldoneundersuchcircumstances，wouldbetorequirefromhumannaturemorethanhumanpower。

　　Whenthetwoladieswiththegiltcrosses，theoldmanwithhiscrutch，andthestillpalpitatinghousemaidweregoing，MrHardingfoundhimselfobligedtogotoo。Thevergerstoodinhisway，andlookedathimandlookedatthedoor，andsohewent。Buthereturnedagaininafewminutes，andre-enteredwithanothertwopence。Therewasnoothersanctuarysogoodforhim。

　　Ashewalkedslowlydownthenave，andthenuponeaisle，andthenagaindownthenaveanduptheotheraisle，hetriedtothinkgravelyofthestephewasabouttotake。Hewasgoingtogiveupeighthundredayearvoluntarily；anddoomhimselftolivefortherestofhislifeonaboutahundredandfifty。Heknewthathehadhithertofailedtorealisethisfactasheoughttodo。Couldhemaintainhisownindependenceandsupporthisdaughteronahundredandfiftypoundsayearwithoutbeingaburdenonanyone？Hisson-in-lawwasrich，butnothingcouldinducehimtoleanonhisson-in-lawafteracting，asheintendedtodo，indirectoppositiontohisson-in-law’scounsel。Thebishopwasrich，buthewasabouttothrowawaythebishop’sbestgift，andthatinamannertoinjuremateriallythepatronageofthegiver:hecouldneitherexpectnoracceptanythingfurtherfromthebishop。Therewouldbenotonlynomerit，butpositivedisgrace，ingivinguphiswardenship，ifhewerenotpreparedtomeettheworldwithoutit。Yes，hemustfromthistimeforwardboundallhishumanwishesforhimselfandhisdaughtertothepoorextentofsolimitedanincome。Heknewhehadnotthoughtsufficientlyofthis，thathehadbeencarriedawaybyenthusiasm，andhadhithertonotbroughthometohimselfthefullrealityofhisposition。

　　Hethoughtmostabouthisdaughter，naturally。Itwastruethatshewasengaged，andheknewenoughofhisproposedson-in-lawtobesurethathisownalteredcircumstanceswouldmakenoobstacletosuchamarriage；nay，hewassurethattheveryfactofhispovertywouldinduceBoldmoreanxiouslytopressthematter；buthedislikedcountingonBoldinthisemergency，broughton，asithadbeen，byhisdoing。Hedidnotlikesayingtohimself，Boldhasturnedmeoutofmyhouseandincome，and，therefore，hemustrelievemeofmydaughter；

　　hepreferredreckoningonEleanorasthecompanionofhispovertyandexile——asthesharerofhissmallincome。

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