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clergyman! Really, Stephen--"
The master of the house pushed his plate away from him in speechless disgust.
"And both Lady Fox-Wilton and the Rector have always taken such trouble about her--much more than about the other children!" murmured Theresa, helplessly.
"What sort of a bringing up do you think Meynell can give anybody?" said her father, turning upon her.
Theresa only looked at him silently, with her large mild eyes. She knew it was of no use to argue. Besides, on the subject of the Rector she very much agreed with her father. Her deafness and her isolation had entirely protected her from Meynell's personal influence.
"A man with no religious principles--making a god of his own intellect--steeped in pride and unbelief--what can he do to train a girl like Hester? What can he do to train himself?" thundered Barron, bringing his hand down on the table-cloth.
"Every one says he is a good man," said Theresa, timidly.
"In outward appearance. What's that? A man like Meynell, who has thrown over the Christian faith, may fall into sin at any moment. His unbelief is the result of sin. He can neither help himself--nor other people--and you need never be surprised to find that his supposed goodness is a mere sham and delusion. I don't say it is always so, of course," he added.
Theresa made no reply, and the subject dropped. Barron returned to his letters, and presently Theresa saw his brow darken afresh over one of them.
"Anything wrong, father?"
"There's always something wrong on this estate. Crawley [Crawley was the head keeper] has caught those boys of John Broad again trespassing and stealing wood in the west plantation! Perfectly abominable! It's the second or third time. I shall give Broad notice at once, and we must put somebody into that cottage who will behave decently!"
"Poor Broad!" said Theresa, with her gentle, scared look. "You know, father, there isn't a cottage to be had in the village--and those boys have no mother--and John