a young couple, who had not thought it at all
necessary to increase the distance between them because of his
presence. These things he had seen, but the stream, and the hedges,
and the twittering of the birds, were as nothing to him.

As he went he met old Mrs. Brattle making her weary way to church. He
had not known Mrs. Brattle, and did not speak to her, but he had felt
quite sure that she was the miller's wife. Standing with his hands in
his pockets on the bridge which divided the house from the mill, with
his pipe in his mouth, was old Brattle, engaged for the moment in
saying some word to his daughter, Fanny, who was behind him. But she
retreated as soon as she saw the stranger, and the miller stood his
ground, waiting to be accosted, suspicion keeping his hands deep
down in his pockets, as though resolved that he would not be tempted
to put them forth for the purpose of any friendly greeting. The
lawyer saluted him by name, and then the miller touched his hat,
thrusting his hand back into his pocket as soon as the ceremony
was accomplished. Mr. Quickenham explained that he had come from
the Vicarage, that he was brother-in-law to Mr. Fenwick, and a
lawyer,--at each of which statements old Brattle made a slight
projecting motion with his chin, as being a mode of accepting the
information slightly better than absolute discourtesy. At the present
moment Mr. Fenwick was out of favour with him, and he was not
disposed to open his heart to visitors from the Vicarage. Then Mr.
Quickenham plunged at once into the affair of the day.

"You know that chapel they are building, Mr. Brattle, just opposite
to the parson's gate?"

Mr. Brattle replied that he had heard of the chapel, but had never,
as yet, been up to see it.

"Indeed; but you remember the bit of ground?"

Yes;--the miller remembered the ground very well. Man and boy he had
known it for sixty years. As far as his mind went he thought it a
very good thing that the piece of ground should be put to some useful
purpose at last.

"I'm not sure but what you may be right there," said the lawyer.

"It's not been of use,--not to nobody,--for more than forty year,"
said the miller.

"And before that what did they do with it?"

"Parson, as we had then in Bull'umpton, kep' a few sheep."

"Ah!--just so. And he would get a bit of feeding off the ground?" The
miller nodded his head. "Was that the Vicar just before Mr. Fenwick?"
asked the lawyer.

"Not by no means.