’I could excuse him for not always understanding Fitzjocelyn!  But there never were two kinder people in the world; and I could not have imagined that I should ever like Lord Ormersfield half so much.’

’He is improved.  Louis’s exclusive devotion has not been lost on him.  Holdsworth has been sitting with me, and talking of the great change in the parish.  He told me that at his first arrival here, seven years ago, when he was very young, he found himself quite disheartened and disgusted by the respectability of the place.  Every one was cold, distant, correct, and self-esteeming; so perfectly contented with themselves and the routine, that he felt all his ardour thrown away, and it seemed to him that he was pastor to a steam-engine—­a mere item in the proprieties of Ormersfield.  He was almost ready to exchange, out of weariness and impatience, when Fitzjocelyn came home, and awoke fresh life and interest by his absurdities, his wonderful philanthropies, and extraordinary schemes.  His sympathy and earnestness were the first refreshment and encouragement; and Holdsworth declares that no one can guess the benefit that he was to him even when he was most ridiculous.  Since that, he says, the change has been striking, though so gradual.  Louis has all the same freshness and energy, but without the fluctuation and impetuosity.  And his example of humility and sincerity has worked, not only in reclaiming the wild outlying people, but even awakening the comfortable dependents from their self-satisfaction.  Even Frampton is far from the impenetrable person he used to be.’

’And I suppose they have done infinite good to the wild Marksedge people!’

’Some are better, some are worse.  I believe that people always are worse when they reject good.  I am glad to find, too, that the improvements answer in a pecuniary point of view.  His Lordship is amazed at his son’s sagacity, and they have never been so much at ease in money matters.’

’Indeed!  Well, I must own that I have always been struck with the very small scale on which things are done here.  Just the mere margin of what is required by their station, barely an indulgence!’

‘I fancy you must look into subscriptions for Fitzjocelyn’s means,’ said James; ’and for the rest, they have no heart for new furniture till he marries.’

’Well!  I wonder if Mary is worth so much heart!  It might be the best thing for him if she would find some worthy merchant.  He is very young still, and looks younger.  I should like him to begin the world again.’

‘Ha!  Isabel, you want to cook up a romance of your own for him.’

James was recovering cheerfulness.  He thought he was bracing himself to bear bravely with an unmerited wrong.  The injustice of his sentence hid from him the degree of justice; and with regard to his own temper, he knew better what he restrained than what he expressed, and habitually gave himself credit for what he did not say or do.  There was much that was really good in his present spirit, and it was on the way to be better; but his was not the character to be materially altered by the first brunt of a sudden shock.  It was a step that he had brought himself to forgive the trustees.  He did not yet see that he had any need to be forgiven.