Chapter 6

Onedaywasverylikeanotheratthevicarage.

SoonafterbreakfastMaryAnnbroughtinTheTimes.Mr.Careyshareditwithtwoneighbours.Hehaditfromtentillone,whenthegardenertookitovertoMr.EllisattheLimes,withwhomitremainedtillseven;thenitwastakentoMissBrooksattheManorHouse,who,sinceshegotitlate,hadtheadvantageofkeepingit.InsummerMrs.Carey,whenshewasmakingjam,oftenaskedherforacopytocoverthepotswith.WhentheVicarsettleddowntohispaperhiswifeputonherbonnetandwentouttodotheshopping.Philipaccompaniedher.Blackstablewasafishingvillage.Itconsistedofahighstreetinwhichweretheshops,thebank,thedoctor’shouse,andthehousesoftwoorthreecoalshipowners;roundthelittleharborwereshabbystreetsinwhichlivedfishermenandpoorpeople;butsincetheywenttochapeltheywereofnoaccount.WhenMrs.Careypassedthedissentingministersinthestreetshesteppedovertotheothersidetoavoidmeetingthem,butiftherewasnottimeforthisfixedhereyesonthepavement.ItwasascandaltowhichtheVicarhadneverresignedhimselfthattherewerethreechapelsintheHighStreet:hecouldnothelpfeelingthatthelawshouldhavesteppedintopreventtheirerection.ShoppinginBlackstablewasnotasimplematter;fordissent,helpedbythefactthattheparishchurchwastwomilesfromthetown,wasverycommon;anditwasnecessarytodealonlywithchurchgoers;Mrs.Careyknewperfectlythatthevicaragecustommightmakeallthedifferencetoatradesman’sfaith.Thereweretwobutcherswhowenttochurch,andtheywouldnotunderstandthattheVicarcouldnotdealwithbothofthematonce;norweretheysatisfiedwithhissimpleplanofgoingforsixmonthstooneandforsixmonthstotheother.Thebutcherwhowasnotsendingmeattothevicarageconstantlythreatenednottocometochurch,andtheVicarwassometimesobligedtomakeathreat:itwasverywrongofhimnottocometochurch,butifhecarriediniquityfurtherandactuallywenttochapel,thenofcourse,excellentashismeatwas,Mr.Careywouldbeforcedtoleavehimforever.Mrs.CareyoftenstoppedatthebanktodeliveramessagetoJosiahGraves,themanager,whowaschoir-master,treasurer,andchurchwarden.Hewasatall,thinmanwithasallowfaceandalongnose;hishairwasverywhite,andtoPhilipheseemedextremelyold.Hekepttheparishaccounts,arrangedthetreatsforthechoirandtheschools;thoughtherewasnoorganintheparishchurch,itwasgenerallyconsidered(inBlackstable)thatthechoirheledwasthebestinKent;andwhentherewasanyceremony,suchasavisitfromtheBishopforconfirmationorfromtheRuralDeantopreachattheHarvestThanksgiving,hemadethenecessarypreparations.ButhehadnohesitationindoingallmannerofthingswithoutmorethanaperfunctoryconsultationwiththeVicar,andtheVicar,thoughalwaysreadytobesavedtrouble,muchresentedthechurchwarden’smanagingways.

Hereallyseemedtolookuponhimselfasthemostimportantpersonintheparish.Mr.CareyconstantlytoldhiswifethatifJosiahGravesdidnottakecarehewouldgivehimagoodrapovertheknucklesoneday;butMrs.CareyadvisedhimtobearwithJosiahGraves:hemeantwell,anditwasnothisfaultifhewasnotquiteagentleman.TheVicar,findinghiscomfortinthepracticeofaChristianvirtue,exercisedforbearance;butherevengedhimselfbycallingthechurchwardenBismarckbehindhisback.

Oncetherehadbeenaseriousquarrelbetweenthepair,andMrs.Careystillthoughtofthatanxioustimewithdismay.TheConservativecandidatehadannouncedhisintentionofaddressingameetingatBlackstable;andJosiahGraves,havingarrangedthatitshouldtakeplaceintheMissionHall,wenttoMr.Careyandtoldhimthathehopedhewouldsayafewwords.ItappearedthatthecandidatehadaskedJosiahGravestotakethechair.ThiswasmorethanMr.Careycouldputupwith.Hehadfirmviewsupontherespectwhichwasduetothecloth,anditwasridiculousforachurchwardentotakethechairatameetingwhentheVicarwasthere.HeremindedJosiahGravesthatparsonmeantperson,thatis,thevicarwasthepersonoftheparish.JosiahGravesansweredthathewasthefirsttorecognisethedignityofthechurch,butthiswasamatterofpolitics,andinhisturnheremindedtheVicarthattheirBlessedSaviourhadenjoineduponthemtorenderuntoCaesarthethingsthatwereCaesar’s.TothisMr.Careyrepliedthatthedevilcouldquotescripturetohispurpose,himselfhadsoleauthorityovertheMissionHall,andifhewerenotaskedtobechairmanhewouldrefusetheuseofitforapoliticalmeeting.JosiahGravestoldMr.Careythathemightdoashechose,andforhisparthethoughttheWesleyanChapelwouldbeanequallysuitableplace.ThenMr.CareysaidthatifJosiahGravessetfootinwhatwaslittlebetterthanaheathentemplehewasnotfittobechurchwardeninaChristianparish.JosiahGravesthereuponresignedallhisoffices,andthatveryeveningsenttothechurchforhiscassockandsurplice.Hissister,MissGraves,whokepthouseforhim,gaveuphersecretaryshipoftheMaternityClub,whichprovidedthepregnantpoorwithflannel,babylinen,coals,andfiveshillings.Mr.Careysaidhewasatlastmasterinhisownhouse.Butsoonhefoundthathewasobligedtoseetoallsortsofthingsthatheknewnothingabout;andJosiahGraves,afterthefirstmomentofirritation,discoveredthathehadlosthischiefinterestinlife.Mrs.CareyandMissGravesweremuchdistressedbythequarrel;theymetafteradiscreetexchangeofletters,andmadeuptheirmindstoputthematterright:theytalked,onetoherhusband,theothertoherbrother,frommorningtillnight;andsincetheywerepersuadingthesegentlementodowhatintheirheartstheywanted,afterthreeweeksofanxietyareconciliationwaseffected.Itwastoboththeirinterests,buttheyascribedittoacommonlovefortheirRedeemer.ThemeetingwasheldattheMissionHall,andthedoctorwasaskedtobechairman.Mr.CareyandJosiahGravesbothmadespeeches.

WhenMrs.Careyhadfinishedherbusinesswiththebanker,shegenerallywentupstairstohavealittlechatwithhissister;andwhiletheladiestalkedofparishmatters,thecurateorthenewbonnetofMrs.Wilson—Mr.WilsonwastherichestmaninBlackstable,hewasthoughttohaveatleastfivehundredayear,andhehadmarriedhiscook—Philipsatdemurelyinthestiffparlour,usedonlytoreceivevisitors,andbusiedhimselfwiththerestlessmovementsofgoldfishinabowl.Thewindowswereneveropenedexcepttoairtheroomforafewminutesinthemorning,andithadastuffysmellwhichseemedtoPhiliptohaveamysteriousconnectionwithbanking.

ThenMrs.Careyrememberedthatshehadtogotothegrocer,andtheycontinuedtheirway.Whentheshoppingwasdonetheyoftenwentdownasidestreetoflittlehouses,mostlyofwood,inwhichfishermendwelt(andhereandthereafishermansatonhisdoorstepmendinghisnets,andnetshungtodryuponthedoors),tilltheycametoasmallbeach,shutinoneachsidebywarehouses,butwithaviewofthesea.Mrs.Careystoodforafewminutesandlookedatit,itwasturbidandyellow,[andwhoknowswhatthoughtspassedthroughhermind?]whilePhilipsearchedforflatstonestoplayducksanddrakes.Thentheywalkedslowlyback.Theylookedintothepostofficetogettherighttime,noddedtoMrs.Wigramthedoctor’swife,whosatatherwindowsewing,andsogothome.

Dinnerwasatoneo’clock;andonMonday,Tuesday,andWednesdayitconsistedofbeef,roast,hashed,andminced,andonThursday,Friday,andSaturdayofmutton.OnSundaytheyateoneoftheirownchickens.IntheafternoonPhilipdidhislessons,HewastaughtLatinandmathematicsbyhisunclewhoknewneither,andFrenchandthepianobyhisaunt.OfFrenchshewasignorant,butsheknewthepianowellenoughtoaccompanytheold-fashionedsongsshehadsungforthirtyyears.UncleWilliamusedtotellPhilipthatwhenhewasacuratehiswifehadknowntwelvesongsbyheart,whichshecouldsingatamoment’snoticewhenevershewasasked.Sheoftensangstillwhentherewasatea-partyatthevicarage.TherewerefewpeoplewhomtheCareyscaredtoaskthere,andtheirpartiesconsistedalwaysofthecurate,JosiahGraveswithhissister,Dr.Wigramandhiswife.AfterteaMissGravesplayedoneortwoofMendelssohn’sSongswithoutWords,andMrs.CareysangWhentheSwallowsHomewardFly,orTrot,Trot,MyPony.

ButtheCareysdidnotgivetea-partiesoften;thepreparationsupsetthem,andwhentheirguestsweregonetheyfeltthemselvesexhausted.Theypreferredtohaveteabythemselves,andafterteatheyplayedbackgammon.Mrs.Careyarrangedthatherhusbandshouldwin,becausehedidnotlikelosing.Theyhadcoldsupperateight.ItwasascrappymealbecauseMaryAnnresentedgettinganythingreadyaftertea,andMrs.Careyhelpedtoclearaway.Mrs.Careyseldomatemorethanbreadandbutter,withalittlestewedfruittofollow,buttheVicarhadasliceofcoldmeat.ImmediatelyaftersupperMrs.Careyrangthebellforprayers,andthenPhilipwenttobed.HerebelledagainstbeingundressedbyMaryAnnandafterawhilesucceededinestablishinghisrighttodressandundresshimself.Atnineo’clockMaryAnnbroughtintheeggsandtheplate.Mrs.Careywrotethedateoneacheggandputthenumberdowninabook.Shethentooktheplate-basketonherarmandwentupstairs.Mr.Careycontinuedtoreadoneofhisoldbooks,butastheclockstrucktenhegotup,putoutthelamps,andfollowedhiswifetobed.

WhenPhiliparrivedtherewassomedifficultyindecidingonwhicheveningheshouldhavehisbath.Itwasnevereasytogetplentyofhotwater,sincethekitchenboilerdidnotwork,anditwasimpossiblefortwopersonstohaveabathonthesameday.TheonlymanwhohadabathroominBlackstablewasMr.Wilson,anditwasthoughtostentatiousofhim.MaryAnnhadherbathinthekitchenonMondaynight,becauseshelikedtobegintheweekclean.UncleWilliamcouldnothavehisonSaturday,becausehehadaheavydaybeforehimandhewasalwaysalittletiredafterabath,sohehaditonFriday.Mrs.CareyhadhersonThursdayforthesamereason.ItlookedasthoughSaturdaywerenaturallyindicatedforPhilip,butMaryAnnsaidshecouldn’tkeepthefireuponSaturdaynight:whatwithallthecookingonSunday,havingtomakepastryandshedidn’tknowwhatall,shedidnotfeeluptogivingtheboyhisbathonSaturdaynight;anditwasquiteclearthathecouldnotbathhimself.Mrs.Careywasshyaboutbathingaboy,andofcoursetheVicarhadhissermon.ButtheVicarinsistedthatPhilipshouldbecleanandsweetforthelord’sDay.MaryAnnsaidshewouldrathergothanbeputupon—andaftereighteenyearsshedidn’texpecttohavemoreworkgivenher,andtheymightshowsomeconsideration—andPhilipsaidhedidn’twantanyonetobathhim,butcouldverywellbathhimself.Thissettledit.MaryAnnsaidshewasquitesurehewouldn’tbathhimselfproperly,andratherthanheshouldgodirty—andnotbecausehewasgoingintothepresenceoftheLord,butbecauseshecouldn’tabideaboywhowasn’tproperlywashed—she’dworkherselftotheboneevenifitwasSaturdaynight.