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August came: on Sundays the church was crowded with
strangers, and the collection at the offertory often amount-
ed to two pounds. Neither the Vicar nor Mrs. Carey went
out of the garden much during this period; for they dis-
liked strange faces, and they looked upon the visitors from
London with aversion. The house opposite was taken for six
weeks by a gentleman who had two little boys, and he sent
in to ask if Philip would like to go and play with them; but
Mrs. Carey returned a polite refusal. She was afraid that
Philip would be corrupted by little boys from London. He
was going to be a clergyman, and it was necessary that he
should be preserved from contamination. She liked to see
in him an infant Samuel.

Of Human Bondage