# Sunday Morning explained — Framley Parsonage > Chapter companion for Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Mark Robarts, anxious about his charity sermon for Harold Smith's mission, revises it to remove potentially embarrassing references. He endures an uncomfortable breakfast with Mrs. Proudie, who criticizes his clerical habits and questions his finances. He then hurries to the Dragon of Wantly to gather his friends for the journey to Chaldicotes, feeling conflicted about his worldly associations. ## Themes in this chapter ### Clerical Duty and Morality Mark's internal conflict between his clerical responsibilities and his desire for social advancement, highlighted by Mrs. Proudie's criticism. ### Gossip and Public Opinion Mark's fear of being ridiculed during his sermon due to the previous evening's laughter over Harold Smith's lecture. ## Character check-ins ### Mark Robarts Revises his sermon to avoid ridicule, feels uneasy about his worldly friendships, and is pressured by Mrs. Proudie. ### Mrs. Proudie Holds morning prayers and breakfast, interrogates Mark about his clerical duties and finances, and asserts her authority. ### Nathaniel Sowerby Calmly shaves and organizes the party's departure, urging Mark not to worry about being late. ### Harold Smith Mentioned as the subject of the charity sermon and the earlier lecture that provoked laughter. ### Miss Dunstable Offers to join Mark in hiring a gig, showing willingness to hurry. ## Key lines > He cut out those parts which referred most specially to the islands—he rejected altogether those names over which they had all laughed together so heartily—and he inserted a string of general remarks, very useful, no doubt, which he flattered himself would rob his sermon of all similarity to Harold Smith’s lecture. Mark removed the specific references to the islands and the names that had been mocked, replacing them with generic comments to distance his sermon from Harold Smith's lecture. _Shows Mark's anxiety about public perception and his attempt to salvage his sermon's dignity._ > He could not afford not to know Harold Smith, and Mr. Sowerby, and the Duke of Omnium, he had said to himself. He had to look to rise in the world, as other men did. But what pleasure had come to him as yet from these intimacies? Mark rationalizes his social climbing by claiming necessity, but questions the actual benefits of these connections. _Reveals Mark's inner conflict between ambition and moral qualms._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/framley_parsonage_se/chapters/vii-sunday-morning - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/framley_parsonage_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/framley_parsonage_se/chapters