"'This Loller here wol precilen us somewhat.'

'Nay by my father's soule! that schal he nat,'

Sayde the Schipman, 'here schal he not preche,

We schal no gospel glosen here ne teche.

We leven all in the gret God,' quod he.

He wolden sowen some diffcultee."

Canterbury Tales.

Dorothea had been safe at Freshitt Hall nearly a week before she had

asked any dangerous questions. Every morning now she sat with Celia in

the prettiest of up-stairs sitting-rooms, opening into a small

conservatory--Celia all in white and lavender like a bunch of mixed

violets, watching the remarkable acts of the baby, which were so

dubious to her inexperienced mind that all conversation was interrupted

by appeals for their interpretation made to the oracular nurse.

Dorothea sat by in her widow's dress, with an expression which rather

provoked Celia, as being much too sad; for not only was baby quite

well, but really when a husband had been so dull and troublesome while

he lived, and besides that had--well, well! Sir James, of course, had

told Celia everything, with a strong representation how important it

was that Dorothea should not know it sooner than was inevitable.

But Mr. Brooke had been right in predicting that Dorothea would not

long remain passive where action had been assigned to her; she knew the

purport of her husband's will made at the time of their marriage, and

her mind, as soon as she was clearly conscious of her position, was

silently occupied with what she ought to do as the owner of Lowick

Manor with the patronage of the living attached to it.

One morning when her uncle paid his usual visit, though with an unusual

alacrity in his manner which he accounted for by saying that it was now

pretty certain Parliament would be dissolved forthwith, Dorothea said--

"Uncle, it is right now that I should consider who is to have the

living at Lowick. After Mr. Tucker had been provided for, I never

heard my husband say that he had any clergyman in his mind as a

successor to himself. I think I ought to have the keys now and go to

Lowick to examine all my husband's papers. There may be something that

would throw light on his wishes."

"No hurry, my dear," said Mr. Brooke, quietly. "By-and-by, you know,

you can go, if you like. But I cast my eyes over things in the desks

and drawers--there was nothing--nothing but deep subjects, you

know--besides the will. Everything can be done by-and-by. As to the

living, I have had an application for interest already--I should say

rather good. Mr. Tyke has been strongly recommended to me--I had

something to do with getting him an appointment before. An apostolic

man, I believe--the sort of thing that would suit you, my dear."




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