I cannot possibly say that I will ever be his wife, Mr. Farebrother: but I
certainly never will be his wife if he becomes a clergyman. What you say is most
generous and kind; I don't mean for a moment to correct your judgment. It is
only that I have my girlish, mocking way of looking at things,« said Mary, with
a returning sparkle of playfulness in her answer which only made its modesty
more charming.
    »He wishes me to report exactly what you think,« said Mr. Farebrother.
    »I could not love a man who is ridiculous,« said Mary, not choosing to go
deeper. »Fred has sense and knowledge enough to make him respectable, if he
likes, in some good worldly business, but I can never imagine him preaching and
exhorting, and pronouncing blessings, and praying by the sick, without feeling
as if I were looking at a caricature. His being a clergyman would be only for
gentility's sake, and I think there is nothing more contemptible than such
imbecile gentility. I used to think that of Mr. Crowse, with his empty face and
neat umbrella, and mincing little speeches. What right have such men to
represent Christianity - as if it were an institution for getting up idiots
genteelly - as if --« Mary checked herself. She had been carried along as if she
had been speaking to Fred instead of Mr. Farebrother.
    »Young women are severe; they don't feel the stress of action as men do,
though perhaps I ought to make you an exception there. But you don't put Fred
Vincy on so low a level as that?«
    »No, indeed; he has plenty of sense, but I think he would not show it as a
clergyman. He would be a piece of professional affectation.«
    »Then the answer is quite decided. As a clergyman he could have no hope?«
    Mary shook her head.
    »But if he braved all the difficulties of getting his bread in some other
way - will you give him the support of hope? May he count on winning you?«
    »I think Fred ought not to need telling again what I have already said to
him,« Mary answered, with a slight resentment in her manner. »I mean that he
ought not to put such questions until he has done something worthy, instead of
saying that he could do it.«
    Mr. Farebrother was silent for a minute or more, and then, as they turned
and paused under the shadow of a maple at the
