, she had always called him "Mr. Wilkinson"--so
instructed by Aunt Penelope; but in other respects her manner to
him was almost that of a sister, only that it was softer, and more
gracious.

"I declare, I thought we were never to see you again, Mr. Wilkinson."
Ah, Adela! whom did the _we_ mean? But is it possible that any girl
should live fairly before the world without some little
insincerities?

"I have been so occupied, Adela. There is so much to do in taking up
a parish. Even though I know all the people so well, there has been
so much to do."

"Yes, yes, I am sure of it. But now that you are settled, I do so
hope that you will be comfortable. I saw Mary the other day, and she
told me that your mother was quite well again."

"Yes, she is pretty well. We are all very well now, I think."

"I do so love that old lord for giving you the living, though they
say he is such a Turk. It was such a good thing in him to do; so
considerate to everybody."

"Yes; it has made my mother and the girls comfortable; that, of
course, is what I had first to think of."

"As for yourself, I have no doubt you would have done better at
Oxford. But you could have got no home for them like their old home;
could you?"

"No, of course not," said Arthur, answering almost at random, and
thinking how best he might explain the sacrifice which he had made
without taking too much credit to himself.

"And then, if you had remained up there, you would only have become a
musty old don. I don't think you would have been happy, not so happy
as in a parish. And when a man is a clergyman"--this she said in
a lower and somewhat a solemn voice--"surely he cannot be so well
placed as in charge of a parish. Don't you think so, Mr. Wilkinson?"

"Certainly. It is the life for which he is intended; for which he
should have intended himself."

"And I am sure it is a happy life: look at papa; I do not know any
happier man--only that poor mamma died."

And upon this hint he spake. "Yes, your father I am sure has been a
happy man, and he is an excellent clergyman."

"Is he not? even still so active! And he is so glad now to have you
near him."

"I wish I had received my living as he did his; not that it would
make any real difference."

"He got his, you know, from the bishop. But do you dislike being Lord
Stapledean's nominee?"

"It would be ungrateful to say that; but I certainly do not like
Lord Stapledean. However, I have taken his living, an