A Tale of a Lonely Parish

seems to be in the nature of great changes to bring other changes with them, even when there is no apparent conne

ort, even as of old Pompeii was overthrown by a second earthquake before it had wholly recovered from the devastation caused by the first. The sho

the bells, Mr. Abraham Boosey having promised beer for the ringers. Even to the vicar's enlightened mind it seemed fitting that there should be some festivity over so great an event and the bells were accordingly rung during one whole afternoon. Thomas Reid's ringers never got beyond the first "bob" of a peal, for with the exception of the sexton himself and old William Speller the wheelwright, who pulled the tr

racterises such proceedings the courts appeared to have decided that though the natural possessor, the eccentric individual who lived abroad, was too mad to be left in actual possession, he was not mad enough to justify actual possession in the person of the next of kin. Proceedings continued, fees were paid, a certain legal personage already mentione

y when Mrs. Goddard and little Eleanor were accustomed to dine at the vicarage, he at once had an opportunity of making the acquaintance of his tenant; thus,

ughed often and heartily. He had an abundance of short brown hair, parted very far upon one side and brushed to a phenomenal smoothness, and he wore a full brown beard, cut rather short and carefully trimmed. He immediately won the heart of Mrs. Ambrose on account of his extremely neat appearance. There was no foreign blood in him, she was sure. He had large clean hands with l

new-comer had been introduced to both the ladies. "I fancy that if you had let it be known t

g," said the squire, smiling. "I would rather e

marked Mrs. Ambrose. "Their idea of a holid

them. I have never been here before. My man of business wanted to come down and show me over the estate, and

se. "The society of Billingsfield is all here," he

ked Mr. Juxon pleasantl

dd

e, "I have tak

ut you know I am a strange

mbrose, "just opposite the park gate.

wished I lived there instead of in the Hall. It looks so

looked forward. The idea troubled her. She had accidentally made Mr. Juxon's acquaintance, and she knew enough of the world to understand that in such a place he would regard her as a valuable addition to the society of the vicar and the vicar's wife. She would meet him

not going to do anything so uncivil as to ask you to give

quire. Mrs. Ambrose thought that if there was a Mrs. Juxon, she had been unpardonably deceiv

rprise he saw in Mrs. Ambrose's face, he added with a laugh, "I have a library of ten tho

lar?" asked Mr.

book fancier," returned

fond of

, mamma?" asked little

ard the chil

ncier is a terrible fellow who has lots of books, and is pursued by a large evil genius telling him he m

her great violet eyes, and then turning

called me M

with a smile. But the child would not go and sat down on a

our library, Mr. Juxon?" asked t

olumes. But I am no great scholar, as you are, though I read a great deal. I have always noticed that the men who accumulate great libraries do not

d be nearer the ma

homo unius libri," returned the squire. "You are nine thou

brose

ve to use your books, I will take advantage of the permission. It

e squire with such perfect innocence that both the vicar and Mrs. Goddar

d be a much greater bor

and never wrote any new

d rather puzzled, and co

ame to th

y task when a man has been at it for thirty years and more. A man begins by being enthusiastic, then his mind gets into a groove and for some time, if he happens to like the groove, he writes very

u have reached that poin

dmired the vicar an

t in the position of my

not been listening to

n my tenant, Mrs. Godd

sed, so that when he rose to take his leave the predominant impression of the vicarage which remained in his mind was that of her face. Something of the same fascination took hold of him which had seized upon

or the little girl. If they all liked they could call it tea instead of dinner. Of course everything was topsy-turvy in the Hall, but they would excuse that. He hoped to establish friendly relations with his vicar and with his tenant-his fair tenant. Might he call soon and see whether there was any

ant it, and he appeared to mean to be very civil. It was curious to see how all severity vanished from Mrs. Ambrose's manner so soon as the stranger who aroused it was out of sight and hearing. She appeared

. An almost morbid fear of seeming to make false pretences possessed her. She was more than thirty years of age, it is true, but she saw plainly enough in her glass that she was more than passably good-looking still. There were one or two grey threads in her brown waving hair and she took no trouble to remove them; no one ever noticed them. There were one or two lines, very faint lines, in her forehead; no one ever saw them. She could hardly see them herself. Supposing-why should she not suppose it?-supposing Mr. Juxon were to take a fancy to her, as a lone bachelor of forty and odd might easily take a fancy to a pretty woman who was his tenant and lived at his gate, what should she do? He was an honest man, and she was a conscientious woman; she could not deceive him, if it came to that. She would have to tell him the whole truth. As she thought of it, she turned pale

Goddard and Eleanor waited home together by

Juxon is very kind, m

he is. It was very good of hi

aid Eleanor. "I wonder whether he

r name was Nellie,"

mma. It was so nice. When s

oddard with a sigh. Nellie looked at h

ke Mr. Juxon?" sh

ne like anybody one

aid Nellie. "Don't you think yo

rprise. "I cannot say anything abo

a? Of course Mr. Juxon will have real servants, just like-like poor papa." Nellie finished her speech rather doubtfully as though not sure how her mother woul

and as though putting the final seal of affirmation to her remarks about the Hall. But she appea

ing knowledge in such very warm weather, the squire's square figure was seen to emerge from the park gate opposite, clad in grey knickerbockers and dark green stockings, a rose in his buttonhole and a thick stick in his hand, presenting all th

do come and see! And Mr. Juxon is

subjected to the continuous action of Nellie's teeth for several months, and an ancient doll, without the assistance of which, as a species of Stokesite memoria teohnica, Nellie declared that she could not say her lessons at all. Those things disappeared, and, with them, Nellie's troubles, into a

child, and then you may co

bitter, but to be caught with inky fingers by a beautiful gentleman with green stockings and a rose in his coat would be more terribly humiliating still. There was a sou

e don't bite, sir, does he? O

by the collar. Martha opened the door of the little sitting-

be sure!" she was heard to exclaim as she

idly and with an expression of amused perple

and taking Mr. Juxon's hand. "I am so fond of dogs." Indee

seeing that Mrs. Goddard looked at the enormous animal with some interest and much wonder, he added, "he is a Russian bloodho

hroughout, was without folds, close as a greyhound's, showing every articulation and every swelling muscle of his body. His broad square head and monstrous jaw betrayed more of the quickness and sudden ferocity of the tiger than those suggested by the heavy, lion-like jowl of the English mastiff.

upon his haunches beside him, and looked slowly from his master to the lady and back again,

n the morning," began Mr. Juxon, after a

ellie has just fin

hich has fallen to my lot, and as I came out of the park I saw the cottage right before me a

s. Goddard, "i

softer kind than any at the Hall. The writing-table was a piece of richly inlaid work, and the implements upon it were of the solid, severe and valuable kind that are seen in rich men's houses. A clock which was undoubtedly of the Louis Quinze period stood upon the chimneypiece. On the walls were hung three or four pictures which, Mr. Juxon thought, must be both old and of great value. Upon a little table by the fireplace