England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Short stories, English
He expressed his opinion with much heat that this was the work of
"that arrogant priest," and that he should smart for it. A clergyman
in this kind of context becomes a priest.
The Dean said, if hints went for anything, that it was a more or less
direct interposition of Providence.
Young Swainson said nothing.
The vergers followed his example, but smiled broadly.
The Dean's lawyer said it was a very foolish act, whoever did it. Mrs.
Dean said that she should like to give the man who did it five
shillings. Perhaps her inclination mastered her.
The Dean's daughter sighed.
And Bicester said everything except what young Swainson said.
I have not mentioned the Dean's daughter before. It is the popular
belief that she was christened Sweet Clive, and if people are mistaken
in this, and the name "Sweet" does not appear upon the favoured
register, what of it? It is but one proof the more of the utter want
of foresight of godfathers and godmothers. They send into the world
the future lounger in St. James's handicapped with the name of Joseph
or Zachary, and dub the country curate Tom or Jerry. No matter; Clive,
whatever her name, could be nothing but sweet. She was not tall nor
short; she was just as tall and just as short as she should have been,
with a well-rounded figure and a grave carriage of the head. Her hair
was wavy and brown, and sometimes it strayed over a white brow, on
which a frown came so rarely that its right of entry was barred
by the Statute of Limitations. There were a few freckles about her
well-shaped nose. But these charms grew upon one gradually; at first
her suitors were only conscious of her grey wide-open eyes, so kind
and frank and trustful, and so wise, that they filled every young man
upon whom she turned them with a certainty of her purity and goodness
and lovableness, and sent him away with a frantic desire to make her
his wife without loss of time. With all this, she overflowed with fun
and happiness--except when she sighed--and she was just nineteen. Such
was Sweet Clive. If her picture were painted to-day, there would be
this difference: she is older and more beautiful.
To return to Mr. Swainson's enclosure. Bicester watched with bated
breath to see what Mr. Swainson would do. No culprit was forthcoming,
and it seemed as if the day were going against him. He made no sign;
only the broken hoops, the cage and battered bell, so lately the
instruments and insignia of triumph, were cleared away and, at the
ex-mayor's strenuous request, taken in charge by the police. Even
the iron railing was removed. The excitement in the Close rose high.
Once more the Cathedral vicinage was undefiled by lay appropriation,
but the Dean knew Mr. Swainson too well to rejoice. The ground
was cleared, but only, as he foresaw, that it might be used for
some mysterious operations, of which the end and aim--his own
annoyance--were clear to him, but not the means. What would Mr.
Swainson do?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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