Gascoigne, Mr. Henry

Rector of Pennictoe; Mrs. Davilow's brother-in-law, a kindly, cheerful, and somewhat worldly man, who had once been in the army. "He had some agreeable virtues, some striking advantages, and the failings that were imputed to him all leaned toward the side of success. "One of his advantages was a fine person, which perhaps was even more impressive at fifty-seven than it had been earlier in life. There were no distinctively clerical lines in the face, no official reserve or ostentatious benignity of expression, no tricks of starchiness or of affected ease.... He had a native gift for administration, being tolerant both of opinions and conduct, because he felt himself able to overrule them, and was free from the irritations of conscious feebleness ... No clerical magistrate had greater weight at sessions, or less of mischievous impracticableness in relation to worldly affairs. Indeed, the worst imputation thrown out against him was worldliness: it could not be proved that he forsook the less fortunate, but it was not to be denied that the friendships he cultivated were of a kind likely to be useful to the father of six sons and two daughters." Proud of her beauty and charm he is greatly interested in having his wife's niece, Gwendolen Harleth, make a suitable marriage. Notwithstanding his worldliness he meets financial losses with his usual cheerfulness and proceeds to make the necessary adjustments with great spirit.

<em>Daniel Deronda</em>

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