t on it," said Mr. Chamberlaine.

"No doubt, they have; and I can see that my estate may be called upon
to restore the bit of ground to its former position. What I can't see
is, that I am bound to enforce the removal now."

Mr. Chamberlaine took up the matter with great spirit, and gave a
couple of hours to the discussion, but the Vicar was not shaken.

The Vicar was not shaken, but his manner as he went out from the
prebendary's presence, left some doubt as to his firmness in the mind
both of that dignitary and of the Squire. He thanked Mr. Chamberlaine
very courteously, and acknowledged that there was a great deal in the
arguments which had been used.

"I am sure you will find it best to clear your ground of the nuisance
at once," said Mr. Chamberlaine, with that high tone which he knew so
well how to assume; and these were the last words spoken.

"Well?" said the Squire, as soon as they were out in the Close,
asking his friend as to his decision.

"It's a very knotty point," said Fenwick.

"I don't much like my uncle's tone," said the Squire; "I never do.
But I think he is right."

"I won't say but what he may be."

"It'll have to come down, Frank," said the Squire.

"No doubt, some day. But I am quite sure as to this, Harry; that when
you have a doubt as to your duty, you can't be wrong in delaying
that, the doing of which would gratify your own ill will. Don't you
go and tell this to the women; but to my eyes that conventicle at
Bullhampton is the most hideous, abominable, and disagreeable object
that ever was placed upon the earth!"

"So it is to mine," said the Squire.

"And therefore I won't touch a brick of it. It shall be my hair
shirt, my fast day, my sacrifice of a broken heart, my little pet
good work. It will enable me to take all the good things of the world
that come in my way, and flatter myself that I am not self-indulgent.
There is not a dissenter in Bullhampton will get so much out of the
chapel as I will."

"I fancy they can make you have it pulled down."

"Then their making me shall be my hair shirt, and I shall be fitted
just as well." Upon that they went back to Bullhampton, and the
Squire told the two ladies what had passed; as to the hair shirt and
all.

Mr. Fenwick in making for himself his hair shirt did not think it
necessary to abstain from writing to the Marquis of Trowbridge.
This he did on that same day after his return from Salisbury. In
the middle of the winter he h