o thought that there should be a place of penitence allowed to those who
had clearly repented of their errors; and, moreover, when he heard that
Mr. Peacocke was endeavouring to establish himself in Oxford as a "coach"
for undergraduates, and also that he was a married man without any
encumbrance in the way of family, there seemed to him to be an additional
reason for pardoning that American escapade. Circumstances brought the
two men together. There were friends at Oxford who knew how anxious the
Doctor was to carry out that plan of his in reference to an usher, a
curate, and a matron, and here were the very things combined. Mr.
Peacocke's scholarship and power of teaching were acknowledged; he was
already in orders; and it was declared that Mrs. Peacocke was undoubtedly
a lady. Many inquiries were made. Many meetings took place. Many
difficulties arose. But at last Mr. and Mrs. Peacocke came to Bowick, and
took up their abode in the school.

All the Doctor's requirements were not at once fulfilled. Mrs. Peacocke's
position was easily settled. Mrs. Peacocke, who seemed to be a woman
possessed of sterling sense and great activity, undertook her duties
without difficulty. But Mr. Peacocke would not at first consent to act as
curate in the parish. He did, however, after a time perform a portion of
the Sunday services. When he first came to Bowick he had declared that he
would undertake no clerical duty. Education was his profession, and to
that he meant to devote himself exclusively. Nor for the six or eight
months of his sojourn did he go back from this; so that the Doctor may be
said even still to have failed in carrying out his purpose. But at last
the new schoolmaster appeared in the pulpit of the parish church and
preached a sermon.

All that had passed in private conference between the Doctor and his
assistant on the subject need not here be related. Mr. Peacocke's
aversion to do more than attend regularly at the church services as one of
the parishioners had been very strong. The Doctor's anxiety to overcome
his assistant's reasoning had also been strong. There had no doubt been
much said between them. Mr. Peacocke had been true to his principles,
whatever those principles were, in regard to his appointment as a
curate,--but it came to pass that he for some months preached regularly
every Sunday in the parish church, to the full satisfaction of the
parishioners. For this he had accepted no payme