The record-union., 1896-06-07
THE LIVING OF EAST WlSPERS.


prayers of the unbeneficed clergy of the
diocese. Il wish the Bishop would
offer it to you, Wilfrid,' Mrs. Hepburn
said.
Il hardly think it is likely, Caroline.
1t is an important living; and there are
so many able men waiting for prefer
ment.'
Most Of them watch as well as wait;
some Of them act" said Mrs. Hepburn.
She knitted in silence awhile. Mr..
Hepburn drew down the blind, the sun
being in his wife's eyes; he was an
acute observer Of little things, as
touching those he loved. why is it,
Wilfrid, that the Bishop has ignored
your claims all these years?"
Il don't know, Caroline. My
claims?" said Mr.. Hepburn absently.
He persistently passes you over as
if you were no account. 1t would make
me angry if l were man. 1t is far
from considerate of him to expect you
to be always a curate; and a new vicar
might turn you adrift; it is often done,
when they bring their own curates, or
have daughters and prefer unmarried
men"
"Caroline.''
well, you know what happened at
ST. Peters; though, to be sure, moth
ing came of that experiment, l am glad
to say"
"Carolinei'
And Mr. Lane was a long time out
before he got his workhouse chaplaincy;
nor was that the Bishops appointment.
His policy appears to be to give good
livings only to rich men,
Il have heard his Lordship remark
on the disadvantages of a poor bene-
feed clergy" Mr.. Hepburn said.
He means well, am sure
Il dare say he does. There is a place
said to be paved with good intentions.
/ have thought what a very pathetic
pavement that must be-"
"Caroline!''
Mrs. Hepburn blushed and held
down her head; she had hardly meant
tc say this bitter thing. She was a
stout, healthy lady, and had something
of a style in walk and manner. She
would have made an admirable provin-
cial Mayoress; and she had been known
Qn Mr.. Hepburn's absence) to smile at
mild profanity. She was too robust to
have visions; passing Sisters of Mercy
in the street, Mrs. Hepburn would raise
her handsome head, in kind of in
stinctive, plying wonderment, as one
who should say, Foolish, foolish vir-
gins."
''The Bishop" she went on, "seems to
think nothing of long and devoted
service. 1 have induced Mr. Grant two
or three times to write appreciatively
of you in the Herald and the page
(marKed) has been sent to him; but he
has taken no notice.
"Mr. Grant has been most obliging,
and l have reason to believe that he
holds me in some esteem" said Mr..
Hepburn. But, Caroline, a reporter,
even though he is 4 member Of our
choir, can scarcely be expected to write
in such a manner as would influence
the Bishop. His lordship, moreover, /
believe, has a prejudice against news
papers"
II have seen him delay a meeting till
the reporters came" Mrs. Hepburn OBJ
served.
HE may have had some momentous
announcement to make"
Mrs. Hepburn sighed. "Still, I do
think something ought to be done for
you, Wilfrid. There might be some
hope for us IL the Bishop, when he Wis
its the town, would call and have tea
with us, instead of always going to the
houses of the rich people. 1 should
take care to let him hear something
that would open his eyes. 1t seems to
me-" said Mrs. Hepburn, with break
in her voice, that even the church is
| against the poor. The children are
| growing up, and of course, Wilfrid,
our expenses increase / keep things
| 7 p,rt Co
lima and Alice are become old enough
to notice how other children are dressed,
and though / do not complain of this,
| l have NOT had rev gown for two
years. If it were not for my brother
1 don't know what we should do"
Caroline said Mr. Hepburn anx-
iously, Il shall not need that oveecoat
this winter"
You must look respectable, Wufrid;
it is more important In your case than
in ours. What do you think the Bishop
would say if he were to see you dressed
shabbily? Cast him forth into outer
darkness
"Oh, Caroline, Caroline!"
"And then / can still make a point
of going out only on wet days when
Geralds fine cloak covers a multitude
of sins. 1 can't work to-day" Mrs.
Hepburn exclaimed; q feel so peevish,
somehow
THE weather is very trying said
Mr.. Hepburn.
1T is not that, Wilfrid; it is East
Wispers. All, dear, l wish you could
understand that this hand mouth
existence is unjust to you and to us,
and that ut will continue until you move
on your own behalf Living after liv-
ing falls vacant, and nothing comes
our way. The Bishop might at least be
given little gentle reminder. l should
like to be a friend of his pelican daugh-
ter; they say he proposes and she dis
poses. Thus the church typifies Provi-
dence. Oh, / ann not saying this to
shock you, Wilfrid, but 1 have often
wished that you were not so proud and
!. sensitive. And / can't really see what
harm there would be in speaking to the
Bishop about East Wispers. 1t is in his
gift, and he may not, after all, know
that you have been Sc shamefully ne
elected. Wilfrid, l am utterly tired of
this dull, hopeless monotony of life;
this miserable struggle, year after year
to make ends meet and keep out of
debt We are actually worse off than
, many of the working people in. the par
ish and them the cruel mockery of our
respectability." Mrs. Hepburn rose, and
made a magnificent figure at the win
dow II spent a day at East Whispers
rectory before married you," she said
and when / recall that delightful
, place