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when after a little time the others began to form into parties, these three were found in busy consultation
on the terrace by Edmund, Miss Crawford and Fanny, who seemed as naturally to unite, and who after a
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short participation of their regrets and difficulties, left them and walked on. The remaining three, Mrs.
Rushworth, Mrs. Norris, and Julia, were still far behind; for Julia, whose happy star no longer prevailed,
was obliged to keep by the side of Mrs. Rushworth, and restrain her impatient feet to that lady's slow
pace, while her aunt, having fallen in with the housekeeper, who was come out to feed the pheasants,
was lingering behind in gossip with her. Poor Julia, the only one out of the nine not tolerably satisfied with
their lot, was now in a state of complete penance, and as different from the Julia of the barouche-box as
could well be imagined. The politeness which she had been brought up to practice as a duty, made it
impossible for her to escape; while the want of that higher species of self-command, that just
consideration of others, that knowledge of her own heart, that principle of right which had not formed any
essential part of her education, made her miserable under it.
"This is insufferably hot," said Miss Crawford when they had taken one turn on the terrace, and were
drawing a second time to the door in the middle which opened to the wilderness. "Shall any of us object
to being comfortable? Here is a nice little wood, if one can but get into it. What happiness if the door
should not be locked! but of course it is, for in these great places, the gardeners are the only people
who can go where they like."
The door, however, proved not to be locked, and they were all agreed in turning joyfully through it, and
leaving the unmitigated glare of day behind. A considerable flight of steps landed them in the wilderness,
which was a planted wood of about two acres, and though chiefly of larch and laurel, and beech cut
down, and though laid out with too much regularity, was darkness and shade, and natural beauty,
compared with the bowling-green and the terrace. They all felt the refreshment of it, and for some time
could only walk and admire. At length, after a short pause, Miss Crawford began with, "So you are to be
a clergyman, Mr. Bertram. This is rather a surprise to me."
"Why should it surprise you? You must suppose me designed for some profession, and might perceive
that I am neither a lawyer, nor a soldier, nor a sailor."
"Very true; but, in short, it had not occurred to me. And you know there is generally an uncle or a
grandfather to leave a fortune to the second son."
"A very praiseworthy practice," said Edmund, "but not quite universal. I am one of the exceptions, and
being one, must do something for myself."
"But why are you to be a clergyman? I thought that was always the lot of the youngest, where there
were many to choose before him."
"Do you think the church itself never chosen then?"
"Neveris a black word. But yes, in the never of conversation which means not very often, I do think it.
For what is to be done in the church? Men love to distinguish themselves, and in either of the other lines,
distinction may be gained, but not in the church. A clergyman is nothing."
"The nothing of conversation has its gradations, I hope, as well as the never. A clergyman cannot be
high in state or fashion. He must not head mobs, or set the ton in dress. But I cannot call that situation
nothing, which has the charge of all that is of the first importance to mankind, individually or collectively
considered, temporally and eternally which has the guardianship of religion and morals, and
consequently of the manners which result from their influence. No one here can call the office nothing. If
the man who holds it is so, it is by the neglect of his duty, by foregoing its just importance, and stepping
out of his place to appear what he ought not to appear."
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" Youassign greater consequence to the clergyman than one has been used to hear given, or than I can
quite comprehend. One does not see much of this influence and importance in society, and how can it be
acquired where they are so seldom seen themselves? How can two sermons a week, even supposing
them worth hearing, supposing the preacher to have the sense to prefer Blair's to his own,11do all that
you speak of, govern the conduct and fashion the manners of a large congregation for the rest of the
week? One scarcely sees a clergyman out of his pulpit."
" Youare speaking of London, I am speaking of the nation at large."
"The metropolis, I imagine, is a pretty fair sample of the rest." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]