Plans were accordingly prepared for turning one part of it into a cosy breakfast parlour, and the other into a conservatory.

Before any steps, however, were taken he received his preferment--good things flow to the rich--and departed, leaving behind him a favourable memory.

If any inhabitant were asked what the old vicar did, or said, and what work he accomplished, the reply invariably was, 'Oh! hum! he was a very good sort of man: he never interfered with anybody or anything!' Accustomed to such an even tenour of things, all the _vis inertiae_ of the parish revolted when the new vicar immediately evinced a determination to do his work thoroughly.

The restless energy of the man alone set the stolid old folk at once against him.

They could not 'a-bear to see he a-flying all over the parish: why couldn't he bide at home ?' No one is so rigidly opposed to the least alteration in the conduct of the service as the old farmer or farmer's wife, who for forty years and more has listened to the same old hymn, the same sing-song response, the same style of sermon.