Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/71

which was not large. Mrs. Fellmer, who had sat beside him ander Halborough this morning, was a cheerful, straightforward woman, who did her marketing and her alms-giving in person; was fond of old-fashioned flowers, and walked about the village on very wet days visiting the parishioners. These, the only two great ones of Narrobourne, were impressed by Joshua's eloquence as much as the coftagers.

Halborough had been briefly introduced to them on his arrival some days before, and, their interest being kindled, they waited a few moments till he came out of the veatry, to walk down the charch-yard path with him. Mrs. Feilmer spoke warmly of the sermon, of the good-fortune of the parish in his advent, and hoped he had found comfortable quarters,

Halborough, faintly flushing, said that he had obtained very fair lodgings in the roomy honse of a farmer, whom he named.

She feared he would find it very lonely, eapecially in the evenings, and hoped they would see s good deal of him. When would he dine with them? Could he not come that day—it must be so dull for him the first Sunday evening in country lodgings ?

Halborough replied that it would give him much pleasure, but that he feared he must decline, ‘I am not altogether alone,” he said, “My sister, who has just returned from Brussels, and who felt, as you do, that I should be rather dismal by myself, has accompanied me hither to stay a few days till she has put my rooms in order and set me going. She was too fatigued to come to church, and is waiting for me now at the farm.”

“Oh, but bring your sister—that will be still better! Ishall be delighted to know her. How I wish I had been aware! Do tell her, please, that we had no idea of her presence,”