The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable FamilyThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Domestic fiction; Families -- England -- Fiction
said that a right reverend head at headquarters shakes dubiously when
his name is mentioned for preferment. His name is spread wide, and not
only women but men come to hear him. Members of Parliament, even
Cabinet Ministers, sit under him. Lord Dozeley of course is seen in a
front pew: where was a public meeting without Lord Dozeley? The men
come away from his sermons and say, “It’s very pleasant, but I don’t
know what the deuce makes all you women crowd so to hear the man.” “Oh,
Charles! if you would but go oftener!” sighs Lady Anna Maria. “Can’t
you speak to the Home Secretary? Can’t you do something for him?” “We
can ask him to dinner next Wednesday if you like,” Says Charles. “They
say he’s a pleasant fellow out of the wood. Besides there is no use in
doing anything for him,” Charles goes on. “He can’t make less than a
thousand a year out of his chapel, and that is better than anything any
one can give him. A thousand a year, besides the rent of the
wine-vaults below the chapel.”
“Don’t, Charles!” says his wife, with a solemn look. “Don’t ridicule
things in that way.
“Confound it! there are wine-vaults under the chapel!” answers
downright Charles. “I saw the name, Sherrick and Co.; offices, a green
door, and a brass plate. It’s better to sit over vaults with wine in
them than coffins. I wonder whether it’s the Sherrick with whom Kew and
Jack Belsize had that ugly row?”
“What ugly row?—don’t say ugly row. It is not a nice word to hear the
children use. Go on, my darlings. What was the dispute of Lord Kew and
Mr. Belsize, and this Mr. Sherrick?”
“It was all about pictures, and about horses, and about money, and
about one other subject which enters into every row that I ever heard
of.”
“And what is that, dear?” asks the innocent lady, hanging on her
husband’s arm, and quite pleased to have led him to church and brought
him thence. “And what is it, that enters into every row, as you call
it, Charles?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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