Said my lady, ‘So it is: indeed I have two presentations,—one to two
hundred a year, one to six. Both livings are in our county,—North
Devonshire,—as you probably know. The first is vacant. Would you like
it?’
What with my lady’s eyes, and what with the suddenness of this proposed
gift, I was much confused.
‘I am sorry it is not the larger presentation,’ said my lady, rather
coldly; ‘though I will not, Mr. Silverman, pay you the bad compliment of
supposing that _you_ are, because that would be mercenary,—and mercenary
I am persuaded you are not.’
Said I, with my utmost earnestness, ‘Thank you, Lady Fareway, thank you,
thank you! I should be deeply hurt if I thought I bore the character.’
‘Naturally,’ said my lady. ‘Always detestable, but particularly in a
clergyman. You have not said whether you will like the living?’
With apologies for my remissness or indistinctness, I assured my lady
that I accepted it most readily and gratefully. I added that I hoped she
would not estimate my appreciation of the generosity of her choice by my
flow of words; for I was not a ready man in that respect when taken by
surprise or touched at heart.
‘The affair is concluded,’ said my lady; ‘concluded. You will find the
duties very light, Mr. Silverman. Charming house; charming little
garden, orchard, and all that. You will be able to take pupils. By the
bye! No: I will return to the word afterwards. What was I going to
mention, when it put me out?’
My lady stared at me, as if I knew. And I didn’t know. And that
perplexed me afresh.
Said my lady, after some consideration, ‘O, of course, how very dull of
me! The last incumbent,—least mercenary man I ever saw,—in consideration
of the duties being so light and the house so delicious, couldn’t rest,
he said, unless I permitted him to help me with my correspondence,
accounts, and various little things of that kind; nothing in themselves,
but which it worries a lady to cope with. Would Mr. Silverman also like
to—? Or shall I—?’
I hastened to say that my poor help would be always at her ladyship’s
service.
‘I am absolutely blessed,’ said my lady, casting up her eyes (and so
taking them off me for one moment), ‘in having to do with gentlemen who
cannot endure an approach to the idea of being mercenary!’ She shivered
at the word. ‘And now as to the pupil.’
‘The—?’ I was quite at a loss.
‘Mr. Silverman, you have no idea what she is. She is,’ said my lady,
laying her touch upon my coat-sleeve, ‘I do verily believe, the most
extraordinary girl in this world. Already knows more Greek and Latin
than Lady Jane Grey. And taught herself! Has not yet, remember, derived
a moment’s advantage from Mr. Silverman’s classical acquirements. To say
nothing of mathematics, which she is bent upon becoming versed in, and in
which (as I hear from my son and others) Mr. Silverman’s reputation is so
deservedly high!’
Under my lady’s eyes I must have lost the clue, I felt persuaded; and yet
I did not know where I could have dropped it.
‘Adelina,’ said my lady, ‘is my only daughter. If I did not feel quite
convinced that I am not blinded by a mother’s partiality; unless I was
absolutely sure that when you know her, Mr. Silverman, you will esteem it
a high and unusual privilege to direct her studies,—I should introduce a
mercenary element into this conversation, and ask you on what terms—’
I entreated my lady to go no further. My lady saw that I was troubled,
and did me the honour to comply with my request.