hapel had been purchased for a
hundred and fifty pounds, and Mr. Saul proposed to add to his own duties
the pleasing occupation of walking to Cumberly Green every Sunday
morning before breakfast, and every Wednesday evening after dinner, to
perform a service and bring back to the true flock as many of the erring
sheep of Cumberly Green as he might be able to catch. Towards the
purchase of this iron church Mr. Clavering had at first given a hundred
pounds. Sir Hugh, in answer to the fifth application, had very
ungraciously, through his steward, bestowed ten pounds. Among the
farmers one pound nine and eightpence had been collected. Mr. Saul had
given two pounds; Mrs. Clavering gave five pounds; the girls gave ten
shillings each; Henry Clavering gave five pounds--and then the parson
made up the remainder. But Mr. Saul had journeyed thrice painfully to
Bristol, making the bargain for the church, going and coming each time
by third-class, and he had written all the letters; but Mrs. Clavering
had paid the postage, and she and the girls between them were making the
covering for the little altar.

"Is it all settled, Harry?" said Fanny, stopping with her brother, and
hanging over his chair. She was a pretty, gay-spirited girl, with bright
eyes and dark brown hair, which fell in two curls behind her ears.

"He has said nothing to unsettle it."

"I know it makes him very unhappy."

"No, Fanny, not very unhappy. He would rather that I should go into the
church, but that is about all."

"I think you are quite right."

"And Mary thinks I am quite wrong."

"Mary thinks so, of course. So should I, too, perhaps, if I were engaged
to a clergyman. That's the old story of the fox who had lost his tail."

"And your tail isn't gone yet?"

"No, my tail isn't gone yet. Mary thinks that no life is like a
clergyman's life. But, Harry, though mamma hasn't said so, I'm sure she
thinks you are right. She won't say so as long as it may seem to
interfere with anything papa may choose to say; but I'm sure she's glad
in her heart."

"And I am glad in my heart, Fanny. And as I'm the person most concerned
I suppose that's the most material thing." Then they followed their
father into the drawing room.

"Couldn't you drive Mrs. Clavering over in the pony chair, and settle it
between you," said Mr. Clavering to his curate. Mr. Saul looked
disappointed. In the first place, he hated driving the pony, which was a
rapid-footed little beast, th