The potentate in this case had as little excuse as Ahab, for
nothing in the parsonage way could be more perfect than his
parsonage. It had all the details requisite for the house of a
moderate gentleman with moderate means, and none of those expensive
superfluities which immoderate gentlemen demand, or which
themselves demand immoderate means. And then the gardens and
paddocks were exactly suited to it; and everything was in good
order;--not exactly new, so as to be raw and uncovered, and
redolent of workmen; but just at that era of their existence in
which newness gives way to comfortable homeliness.

Other village at Framley there was none. At the back of the Court,
up one of those cross-roads, there was another small shop or two,
and there was a very neat cottage residence, in which lived the
widow of a former curate, another protege of Lady Lufton's; and
there was a big, staring, brick house, in which the present curate
lived; but this was a full mile distant from the church, and
farther from Framley Court, standing on that cross-road which runs
from Framley Cross in a direction away from the mansion. This
gentleman, the Rev Evan Jones, might from his age, have been the
vicar's father; but he had been for many years curate at Framley;
and though he was personally disliked by Lady Lufton, as being Low
Church in his principles, and unsightly in his appearance,
nevertheless, she would not urge his removal. He had two or three
pupils in that large brick house, and, if turned out from these and
from his curacy, might find it difficult to establish himself
elsewhere. On this account mercy was extended to the Rev E Jones,
and, in spite of his red face and awkward big feet, he was invited
to dine at Framley Court, with his plain daughter, once in every
three months.