" Fanny was not quite prepared to
admit this in her own heart, but she made no reply on that head. "I
am sure I hope we may be able to be of use to you," she said, "if you
will only look upon me as an old friend, and write to me if you want
me. I hesitate to come frequently for fear that I should offend him."
And then, by degrees, there was confidence between them, and the
poverty-stricken helpmate of the perpetual curate was able to speak
of the weight of her burden to the well-to-do young wife of the
Barchester prebendary. "It was hard," the former said, "to feel
herself so different from the wives of other clergymen around her--to
know that they lived softly, while she, with all the work of her
hands, and unceasing struggle of her energies, could hardly manage to
place wholesome food before her husband and children. It was a
terrible thing--a grievous thing to think of, that all the work of
her mind should be given up to such subjects as these. But,
nevertheless, she could bear it," she said, "as long as he would
carry himself like a man, and face his lot boldly before the world."
And then she told how he had been better there at Hogglestock than in
their former residence down in Cornwall, and in warm language she
expressed her thanks to the friend who had done so much for them.
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