ht it likely she was there, the proper
thing would be to go and inquire; nothing anonymous--no, no; that is a
thing I could not possibly countenance," said Mr Morgan. He pushed
away his pen and paper, and got very red and uncomfortable. If either
of the critics up-stairs, his wife, or his predecessor in the Rectory,
could but know that he was having an anonymous letter suggested to
him--that anybody ventured to think him capable of being an accomplice
in such proceedings! The presence of these two in the house, though
they were most probably at the moment engaged in the calmest abstract
conversation, and totally unaware of what was going on in the library,
had a great effect upon the Rector. He felt insulted that any man
could venture to confide such an intention to him almost within the
hearing of his wife. "If I am to take up your case, everything must be
open and straightforward," said Mr Morgan; while Elsworthy, who saw
that he had said something amiss, without precisely understanding
what, took up his hat as a resource, and once more began to polish it
round and round in his hands.

"I didn't mean no harm, sir, I'm sure," he said; "I don't seem to see
no other way o' finding out; for I aint like a rich man as can go and
come as he pleases; but I won't say no more, since it's displeasing to
you. If you'd give me the list of names, sir, as you have decided on
to be the committee, I wouldn't trouble you no longer, seeing as
you've got visitors. Perhaps, if the late Rector aint going away
directly, he would take it kind to be put on the committee; and he's a
gentleman as I've a great respect for, though he wasn't not to say the
man for Carlingford," said Elsworthy, with a sidelong look. He began
to feel the importance of his own position as the originator of a
committee, and at the head of the most exciting movement which had
been for a long time in Carlingford, and could not help being
sensible, notwithstanding his affliction, that he had a distinction to
offer which even the late Rector might be pleased to accept.

"I don't think Mr Proctor will stay," said Mr Morgan; "and if he does
stay, I believe he is a friend of Mr Wentworth's." It was only after
he had said this that the Rector perceived the meaning of the words he
had uttered; then, in his confusion and vexation, he got up hastily
from the table, and upset the inkstand in all the embarrassment of
the moment. "Of course that is all the greater reason for havin