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Updated: June 30, 2025
One evening, when I was sitting with Barthrop in the smoking-room and the others had gone away, he said to me suddenly, "There's something I want to speak to you about: I have been worrying about it for some little time, and it's a bad thing to do that. I daresay it is all nonsense, but I am bothered about the Father. I don't think he is well, and I don't think he thinks he is well.
He shook hands with Barthrop and with me, and I felt the soft touch of his firm hand, as I had done at our first meeting. Barthrop did not speak, and went hurriedly from the room, without looking round. I could not help it, but I bent down and kissed his hand. "Well, well!" he said indulgently, and gave me a most tender and beautiful look out of his big eyes, and then he mentioned to me to go.
No, my boy," said Father Payne, turning to Barthrop, "you go to Oxford, and enjoy yourself! But the old place is too tight about my heart for me to put my nose into it. I'm a free man, and I am not going to be in bondage to my old fancies.
I have often envied that! Whereas my chief function in life is looking smilingly at stony persons, and that's very bourgeois." "We must show more animation," said Barthrop to his neighbour. "I mean it!" said Father Payne, "but come, I won't be personal! Seriously, you know, the one thing I have admired in the very few great people I have ever met is the absence of embarrassment.
Other things happened, no doubt. I was presently introduced to young Barthrop, the bridegroom to be; and, mechanically, I endeavoured to comport myself fittingly as a guest. But, for me, the entertainment ended with my separation from Cynthia.
I have just handed you your prize." He talked after this lightly of many small things about Barthrop in particular, and asked me many questions about him. "I am afraid I haven't allowed him enough initiative," said Father Payne; "that's a bad habit of mine. But if he had really had it, we should have squabbled he's not quite fiery enough, the beloved Barthrop!
That's a heroic performance; but we admire still more a bland and cheerful Bishop who is not sick, but enjoys a ceremony." "Surely that is all right, Father Payne?" said Barthrop. "When we see a performance, we are concerned with appreciating the merit of it.
"Very worthy people!" said Father Payne cheerfully, as the carriage passed out of sight. "I am very glad to have seen them, and no less thankful that they are gone." "But the charming Phyllis?" said Barthrop, "Is that all you have to say about her? I never saw a more delightful girl!" "She is quite delightful," said Father Payne. "Phyllis is my only joy!
Barthrop and the Vicar were left money legacies: the servants all received little pensions: there was a sum for distribution in the village, and a fund endowed to meet certain practical needs of the place.
I can't quote it's a glorious passage." Barthrop slipped out and fetched a Pilgrim's Progress, which he put over Father Payne's shoulder. "Thank you, old man," said Father Payne, "that's very kind of you that is morality translated into feeling!"
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