Rector's wife. As she looked at him, she became more and more aware of
some meaning in his face which she did not understand; and more and more,
as it became necessary to understand him, the reserves and self-defences
of the first quarrel gave way and dispersed. "I don't think I quite know
what you mean," she said, faltering a little. "I don't understand why
you should think of a change."

"A good country living is a very good position," said the Rector; "it is
not nearly so troublesome as a town like Carlingford. There is no
Dissent that I know of, and no--" (here Mr Morgan paused for a moment,
not knowing what word to use)--"no disturbing influences: of course I
would not take such a step without your concurrence, my dear," the
Rector continued; and then there followed a bewildering pause. Mrs
Morgan's first sensation after the astonishment with which she heard
this strange proposal was mortification--the vivid shame and vexation of
a woman when she is obliged to own to herself that her husband has been
worsted, and is retiring from the field.

"If you think it right--if you think it best--of course I can have
nothing to say," said the Rector's wife; and she took up her stocking
with a stinging sense of discomfiture. She had meant that her husband
should be the first man in Carlingford--that he should gain everybody's
respect and veneration, and become the ideal parish-priest of that
favourite and fortunate place. Every kind of good work and benevolent
undertaking was to be connected with his name, according to the visions
which Mrs Morgan had framed when she came first to Carlingford, not
without such a participation on her own part as should entitle her to
the milder glory appertaining to the good Rector's wife. All these hopes
were now to be blotted out ignominiously. Defeat and retreat and failure
were to be the conclusion of their first essay at life. "You are the
best judge of what you ought to do," she said, with as much calmness as
she could muster, but she could have dropped bitter tears upon the
stocking she was mending if that would have done any good.

"I will do nothing without your consent," said the Rector. "Young
Wentworth is going to stay in Carlingford. You need not look up so
sharply, as if you were vexed to think _that_ had anything to do with
it. If he had not behaved like a fool, I never could have been led
into such a mistake," said Mr Morgan, with indignation, taking a
little walk to the oth