ember evening, and he had been out all day, and on such
occasions the aptitude for delay in dressing is very powerful. A
strong-minded man goes direct from the hall door to his chamber
without encountering the temptation of the drawing-room fire.

"No; but Lady Lufton was down here."

"Full of arguments in favour of Sarah Thompson?"

"Exactly so, Mark."

"And what did you say about Sarah Thompson?"

"Very little as coming from myself: but I did hint that you thought,
or that I thought that you thought, that one of the regular trained
schoolmistresses would be better."

"But her ladyship did not agree?"

"Well, I won't exactly say that;--though I think that perhaps she did
not."

"I am sure she did not. When she has a point to carry, she is very
fond of carrying it."

"But then, Mark, her points are generally so good."

"But, you see, in this affair of the school she is thinking more of
her protegee than she does of the children."

"Tell her that, and I am sure she will give way." And then again they
were both silent. And the vicar having thoroughly warmed himself, as
far as this might be done by facing the fire, turned round and began
the operation _a tergo_.

"Come, Mark, it is twenty minutes past six. Will you go and dress?"

"I'll tell you what, Fanny: she must have her way about Sarah
Thompson. You can see her to-morrow and tell her so."

"I am sure, Mark, I would not give way, if I thought it wrong. Nor
would she expect it."

"If I persist this time, I shall certainly have to yield the next;
and then the next may probably be more important."

"But if it's wrong, Mark?"

"I didn't say it was wrong. Besides, if it is wrong, wrong in some
infinitesimal degree, one must put up with it. Sarah Thompson is very
respectable; the only question is whether she can teach."

The young wife, though she did not say so, had some idea that her
husband was in error. It is true that one must put up with wrong,
with a great deal of wrong. But no one need put up with wrong that
he can remedy. Why should he, the vicar, consent to receive an
incompetent teacher for the parish children, when he was able to
procure one that was competent? In such a case--so thought Mrs.
Robarts to herself--she would have fought the matter out with Lady
Lufton. On the next morning, however, she did as she was bid, and
signified to the dowager that all objection to Sarah Thompson would
be withdrawn.

"Ah! I was sure he would agree w