This, however, he was careful to keep in check, lest he should fall into the sin of inordinate affection, denounced by St.Paul in common with other errors.
Finally, he found an elderly widow, named Parsons, who acted as his housekeeper, and took charge of his son.

Fortunately for Godfrey her sense of parenthood was more pronounced than that of his father, and she, who had lost two children of her own, played the part of mother to him with a warm and loyal heart.

From the first she loved him, and he loved her; it was an affection that continued throughout their lives.
When Godfrey was about nine his father's health broke down.

He was still a curate in his seaport town, for good, as goodness is understood, and hard-working as he was, no promotion had come his way.
Perhaps this was because the bishop and his other superiors, recognising his lack of sympathy and his narrowness of outlook, did not think him a suitable man to put in charge of a parish.

At any rate, so it happened.
Thus arose his appeal to his wealthy and powerful relative, Sir Samuel, and his final nomination to a country benefice, for in the country the doctor said that he must live--unless he wished to die.