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 of 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.

Over and above these, there was hardly a house in the parish of
Framley, outside the bounds of Framley Court, except those of farmers
and farm labourers; and yet the parish was of large extent.

Framley is in the eastern division of the county of Barsetshire,
which, as all the world knows, is, politically speaking, as true
blue a county as any in England. There have been backslidings even
here, it is true; but then, in what county have there not been such
backslidings? Where, in these pinchbeck days, can we hope to find
the old agricultural virtue in all its purity? But, among those
backsliders, I regret to say, that men now reckon Lord Lufton. Not
that he is a violent Whig, or perhaps that he is a Whig at all.
But he jeers and sneers at the old county doings; declares, when
solicited on the subject, that, as far as he is concerned, Mr. Bright
may sit for the county, if he pleases; and alleges, that being
unfortunately a peer, he has no right even to interest himself in the
question. All this is deeply regretted, for, in the old days, there
was no portion of the county mor