Page:Eliot - Middlemarch, vol. IV, 1872.djvu/209

Rh may be: they say the Bulstrodes have half kept the Tyke family."

"And of coarse it is a discredit to his doctrines," said Mrs Sprague, who was elderly, and old-fashioned in her opinions. "People will not make a boast of being methodistical in Middlemarch for a good while to come."

"I think we must not set down people's bad actions to their religion," said falcon-faced Mrs Plymdale, who had been listening hitherto.

"Oh, my dear, we are forgetting," said Mrs Sprague. "We ought not to be talking of this before you."

"I am sure I have no reason to be partial," said Mrs Plymdale, colouring. "It's true Mr Plymdale has always been on good terms with Mr Bulstrode, and Harriet Vincy was my friend long before she married him. But I have always kept my own opinions and told her where she was wrong, poor thing. Still, in point of religion, I must say, Mr Bulstrode might have done what he has, and worse, and yet have been a man of no religion. I don't say that there has not been a little too much of that—I like moderation myself. But truth is truth. The men tried at the assizes are not all over-religious, I suppose."

"Well," said Mrs Hackbutt, wheeling adroitly,