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He too, like Mr James Morton, had his beat, an even narrower one than the barrister's, and even better trodden, for he never strayed off it at all, except for four short weeks in the suot up late, and went on picnics with other ecclesiastics in straw hats, and joined in cheerful songs in the evening He was a priest, with perfectly defined duties, and of ad thelish quite extraordinarily; but his sense of duty was such that they never suspected it; and his flock of Saxons adored him as people only can adore a brisk, businesslike uide and father, and is perfectly aware of it His serly from sermon outlines and served up Sunday by Sunday with a sauce of a slight and delightful brogue He could never have kindled the Thae them with solid stones; and this is, perhaps, evenhiht hied her mind He was not what may be called subtle; he had no patience at all with such things as scruples, nuances, and shades of tone and ave you a plain answer, if he knew it; if not, he looked it up then and there; and that is always a relief in this intricate world Maggie therefore did not bother him much; she went to him only on plain issues; and he respected and liked her accordingly

"Good , my child," he said in his loud, breezy voice, as he ca-room "I hope you don't mind the smell of tobacco-sar, according to rule, as the clock struck twelve, and had left it just now upon a stump outside when his housekeeper had come to announce a visitor

"Not in the least, thanks, father May I sit down? It's rather a long business, I'm afraid"

The priest pulled out an arm-chair covered with horsehair and an antimacassar

"Sit down, my child"

Then he sat down hiy, with his rather large boots cocked one over the other, and his genial red face s at her