to leave, and nobody knows what kind of a gentleman
may be sent. If you wouldn't think I was making too bold," said
Elsworthy, "it aint my opinion as you'll ever put up with poor old
Norris as is in the church. Men like Mr Morgan and Mr Proctor as had
no cultivation doesn't mind; but for a gentleman as goes through the
service as you does it, Mr Wentworth--"

Mr Wentworth laughed, though he was fully robed and ready for the
reading-desk, and knew that his congregation was waiting. He held his
watch in his hand, though it already marked the half minute after
eleven. "So you would like to be clerk in the parish church?" he said,
with what seemed a quite unnecessary amount of amusement to the
anxious functionary by his side.

"I think as you could never put up with old Norris, sir," said
Elsworthy; "as for leading of the responses, there aint such a thing
done in Carlingford Church. I don't speak for myself," said the
public-spirited clerk, "but it aint a right thing for the rising
generation; and it aint everybody as would get into your way in a
minute--for you have a way of your own, sir, in most things, and if
you'll excuse me for saying of it, you're very particular. It aint
every man, sir, as could carry on clear through the service along of
you, Mr Wentworth; and you wouldn't put up with old Norris, not for a
day."

Such was the conversation which opened this memorable Sunday to Mr
Wentworth. Opposite to him, again occupying the seat where his wife
should have been, had he possessed one, were the three Miss Wentworths,
his respected aunts, to whose opinion, however, the Curate did not feel
himself bound to defer very greatly in present circumstances; and a
large and curious congregation ranged behind them, almost as much
concerned to see how Mr Wentworth would conduct himself in this moment
of triumph, as they had been in the moment of his humiliation. It is,
however, needless to inform the friends of the Perpetual Curate that the
anxious community gained very little by their curiosity. It was not the
custom of the young Anglican to carry his personal feelings, either of
one kind or another, into the pulpit with him, much less into the
reading-desk, where he was the interpreter not of his own sentiments or
emotions, but of common prayer and universal worship. Mr Wentworth
did not even throw a little additional warmth into his utterance of
the general thanksgiving, as he might have done had he been a more
effusiv