Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope Read Free Book Online Page B

know I am not so. But I am so sorry. It is just what Lady Lufton won’t like. Besides, you were away in Scotland two Sundays last month.’
    ‘In September, Fanny. And that is being censorious.’
    ‘Oh, but, Mark, dear Mark! don’t say so. You know I don’t mean it. But LadyLufton does not like those Chaldicotes people. You know Lord Lufton was with you the last time you were there; and how annoyed she was!’
    ‘Lord Lufton won’t be with me now, for he is still in Scotland. And the reason why I am going is this: Harold Smith and his wife will be there, and I am very anxious to know more of them. I have no doubt that Harold Smith will be in the government some day,and I cannot afford to neglect such a man’s acquaintance.’
    ‘But, Mark, what do you want of any government?’
    ‘Well, Fanny, of course I am bound to say that I want nothing; neither in one sense do I; but nevertheless, I shall go and meet the Harold Smiths.’
    ‘Could you not be back before Sunday?’
    ‘I have promised to preach at Chaldicotes. Harold Smith is going to lecture at Barchester, aboutthe Australasian archipelago, and I am to preach a charity sermon on the same subject. They want to send out more missionaries.’
    ‘A charity sermon at Chaldicotes!’
    ‘And why not? The house will be quite full, you know; and I daresay the Arabins will be there.’
    ‘I think not; Mrs Arabin may get on with Mrs Harold Smith, though I doubt that; but I’m sure she’s not fond of Mrs Smith’s brother. Idon’t think she would stay at Chaldicotes.’
    ‘And the bishop will probably be there for a day or two.’
    ‘That is much more likely, Mark. If the pleasure of meeting Mrs Proudie is taking you to Chaldicotes, I have not a word more to say.’
    I am not a bit more fond of Mrs Proudie than you are, Fanny,’ said the vicar, with something like vexation in the tone of his voice, for he thought that hiswife was hard upon him. ‘But it is generally thought that a parish clergyman does well to meet his bishop now and then. And as I was invited there, especially to preach while all these people are staying at the place, I could not well refuse.’ And then he got up, and taking his candlestick, escaped to his dressing-room.
    ‘But what am I to say to Lady Lufton?’ his wife said to him, in the courseof the evening.
    ‘Just write her a note, and tell her that you find I had promised to preach at Chaldicotes next Sunday. You’ll go, of course?’
    ‘Yes: but I know she’ll be annoyed. You were away the last time she had people there.’
    ‘It can’t be helped. She must put it down against Sarah Thompson. She ought not to expect to win always.’
    ‘I should not have minded it, if she had lost, as you callit, about Sarah Thompson. That was a case in which you ought to have had your own way.’
    ‘And this other is a case in which I shall have it. It’s a pity that there should be such a difference; isn’t it?’
    Then the wife perceived that, vexed as she was, it would be better that she should say nothing further; and before she went to bed, she wrote the note to Lady Lufton, as her husband recommended.

CHAPTER 2
The Framley Set, and the Chaldicotes Set
    I T will be necessary that I should say a word or two of some of the people named in the few preceding pages, and also of the localities in which they lived.
    Of Lady Lufton herself enough, perhaps, has been written to introduce her to my readers. The Framley property belonged to her son; but as Lufton Park – an ancient ramshackle place in anothercounty – had heretofore been the family residence of the Lufton family, Framley Court had been apportioned to her for her residence for life. Lord Lufton himself was still unmarried; and as he had no establishment at Lufton Park – which indeed had not been inhabited since his grandfather died – he lived with his mother when it suited him to live anywhere in that neighbourhood. The widow wouldfain have seen more of him than he allowed