from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
One of my favorite passages from one of my favorite books. In this scene, Margaret Hale has invited Nicolas Higgins, a working class man who has just lost his daughter to consumption, to join her father, a recently displaced pastor losing heart for the established Church of England, for tea and conversation. As Higgins, sitting in a parlor the like of which he has never seen, decides to take his leave, this is how the chapter closes:
‘Stay!’ said Mr Hale, hurrying to the bookshelves. ‘Mr Higgins! I’m sure you’ll join us in family prayer?’
Higgins looked at Margaret, doubtfully. Her grave sweet eyes met his; there was no compulsion, only deep interest in them. He did not speak, but he kept his place.
Margaret the Churchwoman, her father the Dissenter, and Higgins the Infidel, knelt down together. It did them no harm.
That is so poignant and beautiful really. Why haven’t I read this yet? It’s going on the list.
I haven’t read any other Gaskell novels, but this one is just wonderful. It is all about class reconciliation and finding the human connection even among those who are different from yourself. And the love story is maddeningly frustrating until the very end – which makes it perfect. (The BBC movie version is good, but reading the book first will make it better.)