Supplehouse. He knew the mark; so, at least, he said; but
I myself am inclined to believe that his animosity misled him. I
think that one greater than Mr. Supplehouse had taken upon himself
the punishment of our poor vicar. This was very dreadful to them all
at Framley, and, when first read, seemed to crush them to atoms. Poor
Mrs. Robarts, when she heard it, seemed to think that for them the
world was over. An attempt had been made to keep it from her, but
such attempts always fail, as did this. The article was copied into
all the good-natured local newspapers, and she soon discovered that
something was being hidden. At last it was shown to her by her
husband, and then for a few hours she was annihilated; for a few days
she was unwilling to show herself; and for a few weeks she was very
sad. But after that the world seemed to go on much as it had done
before; the sun shone upon them as warmly as though the article had
not been written; and not only the sun of heaven, which, as a rule,
is not limited in his shining by any display of pagan thunder, but
also the genial sun of their own sphere, the warmth and light of
which were so essentially necessary to their happiness. Neighbouring
rectors did not look glum, nor did the rectors' wives refuse to call.
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