Though there was no man breathing
who was possessed with such a strong repugnance to
subscriptions of any kind, it delighted Lord Marney to see his
name among the contributors to all sectarian institutions.
The vicar of Marney, who had been presented by himself, was
his model of a priest: he left every body alone. Under the
influence of Lady Marney, the worthy vicar had once warmed up
into some ebullition of very low church zeal; there was some
talk of an evening lecture, the schools were to be remodelled,
certain tracts were actually distributed. But Lord Marney
soon stopped all this. "No priestcraft at Marney," said this
gentle proprietor of abbey lands.
"I wanted very much to come and canvass for you," said Lady
Marney to Egremont, "but George did not like it."
"The less the family interfered the better," said Lord Marney;
"and for my part, I was very much alarmed when I heard my
mother had gone down."
"Oh! my mother did wonders," said Egremont: "we should have
been beat without her. Indeed, to tell the truth, I quite
gave up the thing the moment they started their man. Before
that we were on velvet; but the instant he appeared everything
was changed, and I found some of my warmest supporters,
members of his committee.
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