ere," said old Mrs Proctor, rubbing her
hands--"both together, and as kind as could be--exactly as I expected.
An old woman gets double the attention when she's got an unmarried son.
I've always observed that; though in Devonshire, what with your fellowship
and seeing you so seldom, nobody took much notice. Yes, they've been
here; and I like them a great deal better than I expected, Morley, my
dear."

The Rector, not knowing what else to say, shouted "Indeed, mother!" into
the old lady's ear.

"Quite so," continued that lively observer--"nice young women--not at
all like their father, which is a great consolation. That elder one is a
very sensible person, I am sure. She would make a nice wife for somebody,
especially for a clergyman. She is not in her first youth, but neither
are some other people. A very nice creature indeed, I am quite sure."

During all this speech the Rector's countenance had been falling, falling.
If he was helpless before, the utter woe of his expression now was a
spectacle to behold. The danger of being married by proxy was appalling
certainly, yet was not entirely without alleviations; but Miss Wodehouse!
who ever thought of Miss Wodehouse? To see the last remains of colour
fade out of his cheek, and his very lip fall with disappointment, was
deeply edifying to his lively old mother. She perceived it all, but made
no sign.

"And the other is a pretty creature--certainly pretty: shouldn't you say
she was pretty, Morley?" said his heartless mother.

Mr Proctor hesitated, hemmed--felt himself growing red--tried to intimate
his sentiments by a nod of assent; but that would not do, for the old
lady had presented her ear to him, and was blind to all his gestures.

"I don't know much about it, mother," he made answer at last.

"_Much_ about it! it's to be hoped not. I never supposed you did; but
you don't mean to say you don't think her pretty?" said Mrs Proctor--"but,
I don't doubt in the least, a sad flirt. Her sister is a very superior
person, my dear."

The Rector's face lengthened at every word--a vision of these two Miss
Wodehouses rose upon him every moment clearer and more distinct as his
mother spoke. Considering how ignorant he was of all such female
paraphernalia, it is extraordinary how correct his recollection was of
all the details of their habitual dress and appearance. With a certain
dreadful consciousness of the justice of what his mother said, he saw in
imagination the mild e