The Complete Works. George Eliot
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Название: The Complete Works

Автор: George Eliot

Издательство: Bookwire

Жанр: Языкознание

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isbn: 9788027233564

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СКАЧАТЬ and would relieve his mind by going out in the afternoon to look for some need that he could supply, some honest struggle in which he could lend a helping hand. That any living being should want, was his chief sorrow; that any rational being should waste, was the next. Sally, indeed, having been scolded by master for a too lavish use of sticks in lighting the kitchen fire, and various instances of recklessness with regard to candle ends, considered him ‘as mean as aenythink;’ but he had as kindly a warmth as the morning sunlight, and, like the sunlight, his goodness shone on all that came in his way, from the saucy rosy-cheeked lad whom he delighted to make happy with a Christmas box, to the pallid sufferers up dim entries, languishing under the tardy death of want and misery.

      It was very pleasant to Mr. Tryan to listen to the simple chat of the old man—to walk in the shade of the incomparable orchard, and hear the story of the crops yielded by the red-streaked apple-tree, and the quite embarrassing plentifulness of the summer-pears—to drink-in the sweet evening breath of the garden, as they sat in the alcove—and so, for a short interval, to feel the strain of his pastoral task relaxed.

      Perhaps he felt the return to that task through the dusty roads all the more painfully, perhaps something in that quiet shady home had reminded him of the time before he had taken on him the yoke of self-denial. The strongest heart will faint sometimes under the feeling that enemies are bitter, and that friends only know half its sorrows. The most resolute soul will now and then cast back a yearning look in treading the rough mountain-path, away from the greensward and laughing voices of the valley. However it was, in the nine o’clock twilight that evening, when Mr. Tryan had entered his small study and turned the key in the door, he threw himself into the chair before his writing-table, and, heedless of the papers there, leaned his face low on his hand, and moaned heavily.

      It is apt to be so in this life, I think. While we are coldly discussing a man’s career, sneering at his mistakes, blaming his rashness, and labelling his opinions—‘he is Evangelical and narrow’, or ‘Latitudinarian and Pantheistic’ or ‘Anglican and supercilious’—that man, in his solitude, is perhaps shedding hot tears because his sacrifice is a hard one, because strength and patience are failing him to speak the difficult word, and do the difficult deed.

      Chapter IX.

      Table of Contents

      Mr. Tryan showed no such symptoms of weakness on the critical Sunday. He unhesitatingly rejected the suggestion that he should be taken to church in Mr. Landor’s carriage—a proposition which that gentleman made as an amendment on the original plan, when the rumours of meditated insult became alarming. Mr. Tryan declared he would have no precautions taken, but would simply trust in God and his good cause. Some of his more timid friends thought this conduct rather defiant than wise, and reflecting that a mob has great talents for impromptu, and that legal redress is imperfect satisfaction for having one’s head broken with a brickbat, were beginning to question their consciences very closely as to whether it was not a duty they owed to their families to stay at home on Sunday evening. These timorous persons, however, were in a small minority, and the generality of Mr. Tryan’s friends and hearers rather exulted in an opportunity of braving insult for the sake of a preacher to whom they were attached on personal as well as doctrinal grounds. Miss Pratt spoke of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, and observed that the present crisis afforded an occasion for emulating their heroism even in these degenerate times; while less highly instructed persons, whose memories were not well stored with precedents, simply expressed their determination, as Mr. Jerome had done, to ‘stan’ by’ the preacher and his cause, believing it to be the ’cause of God’.

      On Sunday evening, then, at a quarter past six, Mr. Tryan, setting out from Mr. Landor’s with a party of his friends who had assembled there, was soon joined by two other groups from Mr. Pratt’s and Mr. Dunn’s; and stray persons on their way to church naturally falling into rank behind this leading file, by the time they reached the entrance of Orchard Street, Mr. Tryan’s friends formed a considerable procession, walking three or four abreast. It was in Orchard Street, and towards the church gates, that the chief crowd was collected; and at Mr. Dempster’s drawing-room window, on the upper floor, a more select assembly of Anti-Tryanites were gathered to witness the entertaining spectacle of the Tryanites walking to church amidst the jeers and hootings of the crowd.

      To prompt the popular wit with appropriate sobriquets, numerous copies of Mr. Dempster’s play-bill were posted on the walls, in suitably large and emphatic type. As it is possible that the most industrious collector of mural literature may not have been fortunate enough to possess himself of this production, which ought by all means to be preserved amongst the materials of our provincial religious history, I subjoin a faithful copy.

      GRAND ENTERTAINMENT!!!.

      To be given at Milby on Sunday evening next, by the

       Famous Comedian, TRY-IT-ON!. And his first-rate company, including not only an Unparalleled Cast For Comedy! But a Large Collection of reclaimed and converted Animals: Among the rest A Bear, who used to dance! A Parrot, once given to swearing!! A Polygamous Pig!!! and A Monkey who used to catch fleas on a Sunday!!!! Together with a Pair of regenerated Linnets! With an entirely new song, and plumage.

      Mr. Try-it-on. Will first pass through the streets, in procession, with his unrivalled Company warranted to have their eyes turned up higher, and the corners of their mouths turned down lower, than any other company of Mountebanks in this circuit!

      after which. The Theatre will be opened, and the entertainment will commence at Half-Past Six When will be presented A piece, never before performed on any stage, entitled

      THE WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING;

       or The Methodist in a Mask

      Mr. Boanerges Soft Sawder: Mr. Try-it-on. Old Ten-per-cent Godly: Mr. Gander. Dr. Feedemup: Mr. Tonic. Mr. Lime-Twig Lady-winner: Mr. Try-it-on. Miss Piety Bait-the-hook: Miss Tonic. Angelica: Miss Seraphina Tonic.

      After which

       A miscellaneous Musical Interlude, commencing with

       The Lamentations of Jerom-iah! In nasal recitative.

      To be followed by

       The favourite Cackling Quartette,

       by

       Two Hen-birds who are no chickens! The well-known counter-tenor, Mr. Done, and a Gander, lineally descended from the Goose that laid golden eggs!

      To conclude with a

       Grand Chorus by the Entire Orchestra of Converted Animals!!

      But owing to the unavoidable absence (from illness) of the Bulldog, who has left off fighting, Mr. Tonic has kindly undertaken, at a moment’s notice, to supply the ‘bark!’

      The whole to conclude with a

       Screaming Farce of THE PULPIT SNATCHER

      Mr. Saintly Smooth-face: Mr. Try-it-on! Mr. Worming Sneaker: Mr. Try-it-on!! Mr. All-grace No-works: Mr. Try-it-on!!! Mr. Elect-and-Chosen Apewell: Mr. Try-it-on!!!! Mr. Malevolent Prayerful: Mr. Try-it-on!!!!! Mr. Foist-himself Everywhere: Mr. Try-it-on!!!!!! Mr. Flout-the-aged Upstart: Mr. Try-it-on!!!!!!!

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