s certainly not in a gracious mood when he was here last week.
I could not make out whether seeing her a governess were too much for
him, or whether he suspected me of ill-using her.'

'No, no; it was rivalry between him and Master Francis!' said the Doctor,
laughing. 'How he launched out against young men's conceit when Francis
was singing with her. Sheer jealousy! He could see nothing but
dilapidation, dissent, and dirt at Laneham, and now has gone and refused
it.'

'Refused Laneham!--that capital college living!--with no better
dependence than his fellowship, and such a curacy as Wrapworth?'

'Indeed he has. Here's his letter. You may read it and give it to Miss
Sandbrook if you like--he seems quite dispirited.'

'"Too old to enter on a new field of duties,"' read Mrs. Prendergast,
indignantly. 'Why, he is but forty-four! What did he think of us for
coming here?'

'Despised me for it,' said the Doctor, smiling. 'Never mind; he will
think himself younger as he grows older--and one can't blame him for
keeping to Wrapworth as long as the old Dean of --- lives, especially as
those absentee Charterises do so much harm.'

'He does not expect them to give him the living? They ought, I am sure,
after his twenty years' labour there already.'

'Not they! Mr. Charteris gratuitously wrote to tell him that, on hearing
of his burying that poor young Mrs. Sandbrook there, all scruples had
been removed, and the next presentation was offered for sale. You need
not tell Miss Sandbrook so.'

'Certainly not; but pray how does Peter mean to avoid the new field of
duty, if he be sure of turning out on the Dean's death? Oh! I
see--"finish his days at his College, if the changes at the University
have not rendered it insupportable to one who remembers elder and better
days." Poor Peter! Well; these are direful consequences of Miss
Sandbrook's fit of flightiness! Yes, I'll show her the letter, it might
tame her a little; and, poor thing, I own I liked her better when she was
soft and subdued.'

'Ha! Then you are not satisfied? Don't go. Let me know how it is. I
am sure Sarah is distracted about her--more than even Francis. I would
not part with her for a great deal, not only on Peter's account, but on
her own and Sarah's; but these ladies have raked up all manner of
Charteris scandal, and we are quite in disgrace for bringing her here.'

'Yes,' said Mrs. Prendergast, 'while we lived at our dear old country
hom