She was very desirous that her son should make an associate of his clergyman, and by this step she would ensure, at any rate, that.

She was anxious that the parish vicar should be one with whom she could herself fully co-operate, and was perhaps unconsciously wishful that he might in some measure be subject to her influence.

Should she appoint an elder man, this might probably not be the case to the same extent; and should her son have the gift, it might probably not be the case at all.

And, therefore, it was resolved that the living should be given to young Robarts.
He took his degree--not with any brilliancy, but quite in the manner that his father desired; he then travelled for eight or ten months with Lord Lufton and a college don, and almost immediately after his return home was ordained.
The living of Framley is in the diocese of Barchester; and, seeing what were Mark's hopes with reference to that diocese, it was by no means difficult to get him a curacy within it.

But this curacy he was not allowed long to fill.