But I am well aware that she won't come to me; and from little words which constantly drop from her, I am quite sure that nothing would induce her to leave her husband but a direct command from himself.' 'You might do it through him.' 'I am equally sure that nothing would induce him to send her away.' But such a conviction as this was not sufficient for Mr.Smirkie.He was alive to the fact,--uncomfortably alive to the fact,--that the ordinary life of gentle-folk in England does not admit of direct clerical interference.

As a country clergyman, he could bestow his admonitions upon his poorer neighbours; but upon those who were well-to-do he could not intrude himself unasked, unless, as he thought, in cases of great emergency.

Here was a case of very great emergency.

He was sure that he would have courage for the occasion if Folking were within the bounds of Plum-cum-Pippin.

It was just the case in which counsel should be volunteered;--in which so much could be said which would be gross impertinence from others though it might be so manifest a duty to a clergyman! But Mr.Bromley could not be aroused to a sense either of his duty or of his privileges.