Chapter 17

           "TheclerklypersonsmiledandsaidPromisewasaprettymaid,Butbeingpoorshediedunwed."

           TheRev.CamdenFarebrother,whomLydgatewenttoseethenextevening,livedinanoldparsonage,builtofstone,venerableenoughtomatchthechurchwhichitlookedoutupon.Allthefurnituretoointhehousewasold,butwithanothergradeofage—thatofMr.Farebrother’sfatherandgrandfather.Therewerepaintedwhitechairs,withgildingandwreathsonthem,andsomelingeringredsilkdamaskwithslitsinit.TherewereengravedportraitsofLordChancellorsandothercelebratedlawyersofthelastcentury;andtherewereoldpier-glassestoreflectthem,aswellasthelittlesatin-woodtablesandthesofasresemblingaprolongationofuneasychairs,allstandinginreliefagainstthedarkwainscotThiswasthephysiognomyofthedrawing-roomintowhichLydgatewasshown;andtherewerethreeladiestoreceivehim,whowerealsoold-fashioned,andofafadedbutgenuinerespectability:Mrs.Farebrother,theVicar’swhite-hairedmother,befrilledandkerchiefedwithdaintycleanliness,upright,quick-eyed,andstillunderseventy;MissNoble,hersister,atinyoldladyofmeekeraspect,withfrillsandkerchiefdecidedlymorewornandmended;andMissWinifredFarebrother,theVicar’seldersister,well-lookinglikehimself,butnippedandsubduedassinglewomenareapttobewhospendtheirlivesinuninterruptedsubjectiontotheirelders.Lydgatehadnotexpectedtoseesoquaintagroup:knowingsimplythatMr.