st distressing to hear, my dear Temple," replied his rector;
"but I trust I am as willing and as well prepared, from religious
feeling, to suffer as another--that is, provided always I am not
deprived of those comforts and little luxuries to which I have all my
life been accustomed."

"I am very much afraid," observed Purcel, "that the clergy of the
established church will have a very fine opportunity to show the world
how well and patiently they can suffer."

"I have already said, Purcel," said the doctor, "that I am as willing
to suffer as another. I know I am naturally of a patient and rather an
humble disposition; let these trials come then, and I am prepared for
them, provided only that I am not deprived of my little luxuries, for
these are essential to my health itself, otherwise I could bear even
this loss. I intended, Temple, to have had a day or two's shooting on
the glebe lands, but Purcel, here, tells me that I am very unpopular,
and would not, he says, recommend me to expose myself much, or if
possible at all, in the neighborhood.

"And upon my word and credit I spoke nothing," replied the other, "but
what I know to be truth. There is not a feather of game on the glebe
lands that would be shot down with half the pleasure that the parson
himself would. I beg, then, Dr. Turbot, that you won't think of it. I'll
get my sons to go over the property, and if there's any game on it we
shall have it sent to you."

"How does it stand for game, Temple, do you know?"

"I really cannot say," replied the good man. "The killing of game is a
pursuit I have never relished, and with which I am utterly unacquainted.
I fear, however, that the principal game in the country will soon be the
parson and the proctor."

"It's a delightful pursuit," replied the Rev. Doctor, who did not at
all relish the last piece of information, and only replied to the first,
"and equally conducive to health and morals. What, for instance, can be
more delicious than a plump partridge or grouse, stewed in cinnamon and
claret? and yet, to think that a man must be deprived of--well," said
he, interrupting himself, "it is a heavy, and awful dispensation--and
one that I ought to have been made acquainted with--that is, to its
full and fearful extent--before it came on me thus unawares. Purcel here
scarcely did his duty by me in this."

"I fear, sir," replied Temple, "that it was not Purcel who neglected his
duty, but you who have been incredulous.