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very copious in alms…giving； and his theology； you perceive； was
lax。 His mental palate； indeed； was rather pagan； and found a
savouriness in a quotation from Sophocles or Theocritus that was
quite absent from any text in Isaiah or Amos。 But if you feed your
young setter on raw flesh； how can you wonder at its retaining a
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relish for uncooked partridge in after…life？ And Mr。 Irwine’s
recollections of young enthusiasm and ambition were all
associated with poetry and ethics that lay aloof from the Bible。
On the other hand； I must plead； for I have an affectionate
partiality towards the rector’s memory； that he was not
vindictive—and some philanthropists have been so； that he was
not intolerant—and there is a rumour that some zealous
theologians have not been altogether free from that blemish； that
although he would probably have declined to give his body to be
burned in any public cause； and was far from bestowing all his
goods to feed the poor； he had that charity which has sometimes
been lacking to very illustrious virtue—he was tender to other
men’s failings； and unwilling to impute evil。 He was one of those
men； and they are not the commonest； of whom we can know the
best only by following them away from the marketplace； the
platform； and the pulpit； entering with them into their own homes；
hearing the voice with which they speak to the young and aged
about their own hearthstone； and witnessing their thoughtful care
for the everyday wants of everyday companions； who take all their
kindness as a matter of course； and not as a subject for panegyric。
Such men； happily； have lived in times when great abuses
flourished； and have sometimes even been the living
representatives of the abuses。 That is a thought which might
comfort us a little under the opposite fact—that it is better
sometimes not to follow great reformers of abuses beyond the
threshold of their homes。
But whatever you may think of Mr。 Irwine now； if you had met
him that June afternoon riding on his grey cob； with his dogs
running beside him—portly； upright； manly； with a good…natured
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smile on his finely turned lips as he talked to his dashing young
companion on the bay mare； you must have felt that； however ill
he harmonised with sound theories of the clerical office； he
somehow harmonised extremely well with that peaceful
landscape。
See them in the bright sunlight； interrupted every now and
then by rolling masses of cloud； ascending the slope from the
Broxton side； where the tall gables and elms of the rectory
predominate over the tiny whitewashed church。 They will soon be
in the parish of Hayslope； the grey church…tower and village roofs
lie before them to the left； and farther on； to the right； they can
just see the chimneys of the Hall Farm。
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Chapter VI
The Hall Farm
vidently that gate is never opened； for the long grass and
Ethe great hemlocks grow close against it； and if it were
opened； it is so rusty that the force necessary to turn it on
its hinges would be likely to pull down the square stone…built
pillars； to the detriment of the two stone lionesses which grin with
a doubtful carnivorous affability above a coat of arms surmounting
each of the pillars。 It would be easy enough； by the aid of the nicks
in the stone pillars； to climb over the brick wall with its smooth
stone coping； but by putting our eyes close to the rusty bars of the
gate； we can see the house well enough； and all but the very
corners of the grassy enclosure。
It is a very fine old place； of red brick； softened by a pale
powdery lichen； which has dispersed itself with happy irregularity；
so as to bring the red brick into terms of friendly companionship
with the limestone ornaments surrounding the three gables； the
windows； and the door…place。 But the windows are patched with
wooden panes； and the door； I think； is like the gate—it is never
opened。 How it would groan and grate against the stone floor if it
were！ For it is a solid； heavy； handsome door； and must once have
been in the habit of shutting with a sonorous bang behind a
liveried lackey； who had just seen his master and mistress off the
grounds in a carriage and pair。
But at present one might fancy the house in the early stage of a
chancery suit； and that the fruit from that grand double row of
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walnut…trees on the right hand of the enclosure would fall and rot
among the grass； if it were not that we heard the booming bark of
dogs echoing from great buildings at the back。 And now the half…
weaned calves that have been sheltering themselves in a gorse…
built hovel against the left…hand wall come out and set up a silly
answer to that terrible bark； doubtless supposing that it has
reference to buckets of milk。
Yes； the house must be inhabited； and we will see by whom； for
imagination is a licensed trespasser： it has no fear of dogs； but may
climb over walls and peep in at windows with impunity。 Put your
face to one of the glass panes in the right…hand window： what do
you see？ A large open fireplace； with rusty dogs in it； and a bare
boarded floor； at the far end； fleeces of wool stacked