`I say anything disrespectful of Dr Kenn? Heaven forbid!But I am not bound to respect a libellous bust of him.I think Kenn one of the finest fellows in the world.I don't care much about the tall candle-sticks he has put on the communion table, and I shouldn't like to spoil my temper by getting up to early prayers every morning.But he's the only man I ever knew personally who seems to me to have anything of the real apostle in him - a man who has eight hundred a year and is contented with deal furniture and boiled beef because he gives away two thirds of his income.That was a very fine thing of him - taking into his house that poor lad Grattan, who shot his mother by accident.He sacrifices more time than a less busy man could spare, to save the poor fellow from getting into a morbid state of mind about it.He takes the lad out with him constantly, I see.'
`That is beautiful,' said Maggie, who had let her work fall, and was listening with keen interest, `I never knew any one who did such things.'
`And one admires that sort of action in Kenn all the more,' said Stephen, `because his manners in general are rather cold and severe.There's nothing sugary and maudlin about him.'
`O I think he's a perfect character!' said Lucy, with pretty enthusiasm.
`No, there I can't agree with you,' said Stephen shaking his head with sarcastic gravity.
`Now, what fault can you point out in him?'
`He's an Anglican.'
`Well, those are the right views, I think,' said Lucy, gravely.
`That settles the question in the abstract,' said Stephen, `but not from a parliamentary point of view.He has set the dissenters and the church people by the ears, and a rising senator like myself, of whose services the country is very much in need, will find it inconvenient when he puts up for the honour of representing St Ogg's in parliament.'
`Do you really think of that?' said Lucy, her eyes brightening with a proud pleasure that made her neglect the argumentative interests of Anglicanism.
`Decidedly - whenever old Mr Leyburn's public spirit and gout induce him to give way.My father's heart is set on it; and gifts like mine, you know,' - here Stephen drew himself up and rubbed his large white hands over his hair with playful self-admiration - `gifts like mine involve great responsibilities.Don't you think so, Miss Tulliver?'
`Yes,' said Maggie, smiling, but not looking up; `so much fluency and self possession should not be wasted entirely on private occasions.'
`Ah, I see how much penetration you have,' said Stephen.`You have discovered already that I am talkative and impudent.Now superficial people never discern that - owing to my manner, I suppose.'
`She doesn't look at me when I talk of myself,' he thought while his listeners were laughing.`I must try other subjects.'
Did Lucy intend to be present at the meeting of the Book Club next week?
was the next question.Then followed the recommendation to choose Southey's Life of Cowper, unless she were inclined to be philosophical and startle the ladies of St Ogg's by voting for one of the Bridgewater Treatises.
Of course Lucy wished to know what these alarmingly learned books were, and as it is always pleasant to improve the minds of ladies by talking to them at ease on subjects of which they know nothing, Stephen became quite brilliant in an account of Buckland's Treatise, which he had just been reading.He was rewarded by seeing Maggie let her work fall and gradually get so absorbed in his wonderful geological story that she sat looking at him, leaning forward with crossed arms and with an entire absence of self-consciousness, as if he had been the snuffiest of old professors and she a downy-lipped alumnus.He was so fascinated by this clear, large gaze that at last he forgot to look away from it occasionally towards Lucy:
but she, sweet child, was only rejoicing that Stephen was proving to Maggie how clever he was, and that they would certainly be good friends after all.
`I will bring you the book, shall I, Miss Tulliver?' said Stephen, when he found the stream of his recollections running rather shallow.`There are many illustrations in it that you will like to see.'
`O thank you,' said Maggie, blushing with returning self-consciousness at this direct address, and taking up her work again.
`No, no,' Lucy interposed.`I must forbid your plunging Maggie in books.
I shall never get her away from them.And I want her to have delicious do-nothing days, filled with boating and chatting and riding and driving:
that is the holiday she needs.'
`Apropos!' said Stephen, looking at his watch, `shall we go out for a row on the river now? The tide will suit for us to go the Tofton way, and we can walk back.'
That was a delightful proposition to Maggie, for it was years since she had been on the river.When she was gone to put on her bonnet, Lucy lingered to give an order to the servant and took the opportunity of telling Stephen that Maggie had no objection to seeing Philip, so that it was a pity she had sent that note the day before yesterday.But she would write another tomorrow and invite him.
`I'll call and beat him up tomorrow,' said Stephen, `and bring him with me in the evening, shall I? My sisters will want to call on you, when Itell them your cousin is with you.I must have the field clear for them in the morning.'
`O yes, pray bring him,' said Lucy.`And you will like Maggie, shan't you?' she added, in a beseeching tone.`Isn't she a dear, noble-looking creature?'