Sunday ritual
On Sunday morning the whole great family of the vicar, except of his wife, who was ill, and wasn’t able to walk, went to the church. They did their best to look as honorably as possible: “the long-legged girls in skimpy frocks, the boys in black coats and long, grey, unfitting trousers”. They passed by their father's parishioners with “mute, clear faces, childish mouths closed in pride that was like a doom to them”. Their parents educated them and taught them to be pride of who they are. And although they looked ridiculous in all those clothes, it seemed that this procession was their eternal need not just to show off, but also to believe in themselves.
Mrs. Durant’s place
Louisa liked Mrs. Durant’s garden and house; it was the place of peace and love for her: “from the highway hedge, by the railway crossing, the snowy garden sheered down steeply, like then side of a hole, and then dropped straight in a wall. In this depth the house was snug, its chimney just level with the road”. There was a big apple tree which leaned overhead, above the paraffin nut, a little backyard, stone stairs and Louisa thought, that tree talked to her, that it told her she had to visit Mrs. Durant. Miss Louisa felt secured from the entire world down there. The place was calm and safe for her. The atmosphere was amicable and pleasant, and, what was the most important – there she could meet Alfred, the man, she loved.
Vicar’s Flock
Lindley family was not very well received by the new “raw, disaffected population of colliers”. He had to humble them, but still, the collier population refused to accept his ideas: “They had no use for him in their lives, and they told him so, callously”. Mr. Lindley had no particular character, he has been always depending on his position in the society, and having met such a hatred of the majority of his flock, he dragged on “pale, miserable and neutral”. This image helps to understand why Lindley family was so miserable – they were misfits, nobody respected them because they were poor.
Shameful Private Life
Mary’s marriage was a huge mistake, and she got it as soon as she has married Mr. Massy. She lived almost isolated from other people, and never wanted them to see her: “She suffered as if it were an insult to her own flesh, seeing the repulsion which some people felt for her husband, or the special manner they had of treating him, as if he were a "case"”. Mary couldn’t stop thinking of her misfortune, and when the child born, she almost hated it because it made her live again and she wished she were dead and didn’t see her husband again. This image creates a picture of regret and sorrow, the young woman feels, it eats her from inside because she has lost her chance to be happy.
