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it was rather a facer to Mr. Fullarton, who dealt in generalities as a
rule, and objected to being brought to book about
particularsconsidering, indeed, such a line of argument as indicative
of a caviling and narrowminded disposition in his interlocutor.
Well, he said, not without hesitation, Major Keene has only once been
to church; and, I believe, has spoken scoffingly since of the discourse
he heard delivered there. Yet I may say I was more than usually
'supported' on that occasion. The man's thorough air of conviction
softened somewhat the absurd effect of his childish vanity.
Cecil would have been sorry to confess how much excuse she felt inclined
to admit just then for the sins both of commission and omissionsins
that, at another time, when her faculties were fresh and her judgment
unbiassed, she might have looked upon as any thing but venial. Ah! Mr.
Fullarton, the seed you have scattered so profusely tonight is
beginning to bear fruit already you never dreamed of. Beetroot and
turnips will not succeed on _every_ soil. It must be long before a
remunerative crop of these can be gathered from the breezy upland which
for centuries, till the heather was burned, has worn a robe of
uncommercial but imperial purple.
Nevertheless, Miss Tresilyan frowned perceptibly. It looked very much as
if Keene had been amusing himself at her expense when he affected an
interest in her leading the choir. Unwittingly to make sport for the
men of war in Gath by no means suited the fancy of that haughty ladye.
It is very wrong of him not to come to church, she observed after a
pause (for the sin of sarcasm disapproval was not so ready, and she made
the most of scanty means of condemnation). Yet I scarcely think he can
be actively hostile. You know he almost lives with the Molyneuxs, and
has great influence with them. Do they not attend regularly?
Mr. Fullarton admitted that they did. But, said he, constant
intercourse with such a man must ere long have its injurious effect.
Indeed, I felt it my bounden duty to warn Mrs. Molyneux on the subject.
I grieve to say she treated my admonition with a very unwarrantable
levity.
Mrs. Danvers's sympathetic groan was promptly at the service of the
speaker; fortunately, turning to thank her for it by a look, he missed
detecting her pupil's smile. She could fancy so well Fanny's little
_moue_, combining amusement, vexation, and impertinence, while
undergoing the ecclesiastical censure.
You must be merciful to Mrs. Molyneux, she remarked, with a demure
gravity that did her credit under the circumstances. She is my greatest
friend, you know. When a wife is so very fond of her husband, surely
there is some excuse for her adopting his prejudices for and against
people?
The pastor brightened up suddenly: he had just recollected another fact

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