Lady Lufton talked to him of his parish
and of her own; made Mark Robarts go to him, and by degrees did
something towards civilizing him. Between him and Robarts too there
grew up an intimacy rather than a friendship. Robarts would submit
to his opinion on matters of ecclesiastical and even theological law,
would listen to him with patience, would agree with him where he
could, and differ from him mildly when he could not. For Robarts
was a man who made himself pleasant to all men. And thus, under
Lady Lufton's wing, there grew up a connexion between Framley and
Hogglestock, in which Mrs. Robarts also assisted. And now that Lady
Lufton was looking about her, to see how she might best bring proper
clerical influence to bear upon her own recreant fox-hunting parson,
it occurred to her that she might use Mr. Crawley in the matter.
Mr. Crawley would certainly be on her side as far as opinion went,
and would have no fear as to expressing his opinion to his brother
clergyman. So she sent for Mr. Crawley. In appearance he was the
very opposite to Mark Robarts. He was a lean, slim, meagre man, with
shoulders slightly curved, and pale, lank, long locks of ragged hair;
his forehead was high, but his face was narrow; his small grey eyes
were deeply sunken in his head, his nose was well-formed, his lips
thin, and his mouth expressive.
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