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It Is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reade
page 108 of 1072 (10%)
whereof you are one."

"Nor any servant of God to say a word of humility and charity to the
rich, of eternal hope to the poor, and" (here his voice sunk into
sudden tenderness) "of comfort to the sorrowful."

Susan raised her eyes and looked him over with one dove-like glance,
then instantly lowered them.

"No, sir, we are all under a cloud here," said Susan sadly.

"Miss Merton, I have undertaken the duty here until the living shall
be filled up; but you shall understand that I live thirty miles off,
and have other duties, and I can only ride over here on Saturday
afternoon and back Monday at noon."

"Oh, sir!" cried Susan, "half a loaf is better than no bread! The
parish will bless you, sir, and no doubt," added she timidly, "the
Lord will reward you for coming so far to us."

"I am glad you think so," said the clergyman thoughtfully. "Well, let
us do the best we can. Tell me first, Miss Merton, do you think the
absence of a clergyman is regretted here?"

"Regretted, sir! dear heart, what a question. You might as well ask me
do father's turnips long for rain after a month's drought;" and Susan
turned on her visitor a face into which the innocent venerating love
her sex have for an ecclesiastic flashed without disguise.

Her companion smiled, but it was with benevolence, not with gratified
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