of conjectures, whereof, I imagine, the
chief is, that you are gone as companion to Mistress Transome; for some of our
friends have already hinted a rebuke to me that I should permit your taking a
position so little likely to further your spiritual welfare.«
    »Now, father, I think I shall be obliged to run away from you, not to keep
the carriage too long,« said Esther, as she finished her reforms in the
minister's toilette. »You look beautiful now, and I must give Lyddy a little
lecture before I go.«
    »Yes, my dear; I would not detain you, seeing that my duties demand me. But
take with you this Treatise, which I have purposely selected. It concerns all
the main questions between ourselves and the establishment - government,
discipline, state-support. It is seasonable that you should give a nearer
attention to these polemics, lest you be drawn aside by the fallacious
association of a state church with elevated rank.«
    Esther chose to take the volume submissively, rather than to adopt the
ungraceful sincerity of saying that she was unable at present to give her mind
to the original functions of a bishop, or the comparative merit of endowments
and voluntaryism. But she did not run her eyes over the pages during her
solitary drive to get a foretaste of the argument, for she was entirely occupied
with Felix Holt's prophecy that she would marry Harold Transome.
 

                                   Chapter 42

 »Thou sayst it, and not I; for thou hast done
 The ugly deed that made these ugly words.«
                                                             Sophocles: Electra.
 
 »Yea, it becomes a man
 To cherish memory, where he had delight.
 For kindness is the natural birth of kindness.
 Whose soul records not the great debt of joy,
 Is stamped for ever an ignoble man.«
                                                                Sophocles: Ajax.
 
It so happened that, on the morning of the day when Esther went to see her
father, Jermyn had not yet heard of her presence at Transome Court. One fact
conducing to keep him in this ignorance was, that some days after his critical
interview with Harold - days during which he had been wondering how long it
would be before Harold made up his mind to sacrifice the luxury of satisfied
anger for the solid advantage of securing fortune and position - he was
peremptorily called away by business to the south of England, and was obliged to
inform Harold by letter of his absence. He took care also to notify his return;
but Harold made no sign in reply. The days passed without bringing him any
gossip concerning Esther's visit,