He is likely to profit more by the direct words of the Church
herself, read without personal meaning, than by the individual
exhortations of some devout stranger."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, I never meant to question your judgment.
Indeed I did not."
The horses were here announced, and Dr. Godfrey said,
"Then I leave him to you with a grateful heart. I am beginning to
hope that there is much hypochondriacism in his condition, and that
this may pass away with his despondency. I hope before many weeks
are over to come and visit him again, before I go to my parish in
Dorsetshire."
Then, with a fatherly blesssing, the Canon took his leave.
He was scarcely gone before there was a great rustling in the hall,
and Mrs. Phoebe and Mrs. Delia Treforth were announced. Aurelia was
surprised, for she had been decidedly sensible of their disapproval
when she made her visit of ceremony after her entertainment by them.
She, however, had underrated the force of the magnet of curiosity.
They had come to inquire about the visitor, who had actually spent
a night at the Park. They knew who he was, for "Ned Godfrey" had
been a frequent guest at Bowstead in the youth of all parties, and
they were annoyed that he had not paid his respects to them.
"It would have been only fitting to have sent for us, as relations
of the family, to assist in entertaining him," said Mrs.
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