Agnes Grey

On their way back from church one Sunday, Rosalie asks what Agnes thinks of the new curate Mr. Weston. When Agnes points out that she hasn’t heard Mr. Weston preach yet, Rosalie asks impatiently whether Agnes thinks he’s ugly. Agnes says no—the only thing that struck him about her was his reading of the Bible and of prayers, which struck her as intelligent and heartfelt. Rosalie claims that Mr. Weston is only good for church services and expresses how glad she is that she need not depend on him for entertainment.

Then Rosalie asks whether Agnes noticed how Mr. Hatfield hurried out of church to help the Murrays into their carriage. Agnes says yes—thinking to herself that it was undignified behavior from a priest and resenting that he nearly shut the carriage door in her face after helping the Murrays in. In fact, Mr. Hatfield, Harry Meltham, and the Murrays’ other visitors never acknowledge Agnes.

Rosalie decides to attend a second church service in the afternoon so that she can see Harry Meltham again and so that Agnes can hear Mr. Weston preach. In church, Agnes is struck by the pleasant contrast of Mr. Weston’s strong, simple, truthful homily with Mr. Hatfield’s sermons. Mr. Hatfield uses his sermons as opportunities to flash around his expensive rings, criticize all forms of individual religious thought, and argue that poor people ought to practice “deferential obedience” to rich people—when he is not threatening people with hell. Agnes thinks he is one of those people who tasks others with piety, humility, and goodness without practicing it himself.

After church, Harry Meltham hands Rosalie and Matilda into their carriage—but not Agnes, though he doesn’t shut the door in her face either. When Rosalie asks what Agnes thinks of “him,” Agnes briefly thinks she’s asking about Mr. Weston and replies, “No harm still.” Rosalie, shocked, says he’s ever so much better now—and Agnes realizes that she’s talking about Harry Meltham. Matilda announces that Harry Meltham would be a “jolly companion” and argues that he likes her as much as he likes Rosalie. When Rosalie sniffs that only old men and younger sons could tolerate Matilda’s manners, Matilda snaps back that she isn’t “grubbing after money” like Rosalie and Mrs. Murray. Luckily, the end of the carriage ride ends the sisters’ fight.