“I am exceedingly obliged to you,” said Ladislaw, proudly.  “Since you are going to part with the `Pioneer,’ I need not trouble you about the steps I shall take.  I may choose to continue here for the present.”

After Mr. Brooke had left him Will said to himself, “The rest of the family have been urging him to get rid of me, and he doesn’t care now about my going.  I shall stay as long as I like.  I shall go of my own movements and not because they are afraid of me.”

CHAPTER LII.

“His heart
The lowliest duties on itself did lay.” 
—­WORDSWORTH.

On that June evening when Mr. Farebrother knew that he was to have the Lowick living, there was joy in the old fashioned parlor, and even the portraits of the great lawyers seemed to look on with satisfaction.  His mother left her tea and toast untouched, but sat with her usual pretty primness, only showing her emotion by that flush in the cheeks and brightness in the eyes which give an old woman a touching momentary identity with her far-off youthful self, and saying decisively—­

“The greatest comfort, Camden, is that you have deserved it.”

“When a man gets a good berth, mother, half the deserving must come after,” said the son, brimful of pleasure, and not trying to conceal it.  The gladness in his face was of that active kind which seems to have energy enough not only to flash outwardly, but to light up busy vision within:  one seemed to see thoughts, as well as delight, in his glances.

“Now, aunt,” he went on, rubbing his hands and looking at Miss Noble, who was making tender little beaver-like noises, “There shall be sugar-candy always on the table for you to steal and give to the children, and you shall have a great many new stockings to make presents of, and you shall darn your own more than ever!”

Miss Noble nodded at her nephew with a subdued half-frightened laugh, conscious of having already dropped an additional lump of sugar into her basket on the strength of the new preferment.

“As for you, Winny”—­the Vicar went on—­“I shall make no difficulty about your marrying any Lowick bachelor—­Mr. Solomon Featherstone, for example, as soon as I find you are in love with him.”

Miss Winifred, who had been looking at her brother all the while and crying heartily, which was her way of rejoicing, smiled through her tears and said, “You must set me the example, Cam:  you must marry now.”

“With all my heart.  But who is in love with me?  I am a seedy old fellow,” said the Vicar, rising, pushing his chair away and looking down at himself.  “What do you say, mother?”

“You are a handsome man, Camden:  though not so fine a figure of a man as your father,” said the old lady.

“I wish you would marry Miss Garth, brother,” said Miss Winifred.  “She would make us so lively at Lowick.”

“Very fine!  You talk as if young women were tied up to be chosen, like poultry at market; as if I had only to ask and everybody would have me,” said the Vicar, not caring to specify.