If, of any thing he did, two interpretations were possible--one good, and one bad, there was no room for a doubt as to which she would adopt and publish.

Not even to herself, however, did she allow that one chief cause of her hatred was, that, having all her life been used to a pair of horses, she had now to put up with only a brougham.
To the brass knocker on her door, the rector applied himself, and sent a confident announcement of his presence through the house.

Almost instantly the long-faced butler, half undertaker, half parish-clerk, opened the door; and seeing the rector, drew it wide to the wall, inviting him to step into the library, as he had no doubt Mrs.Ramshorn would be at home to _him_.

Nor was it long ere she appeared, in rather youthful morning dress, and gave him a hearty welcome; after which, by no very wide spirals of descent, the talk swooped presently upon the curate.
"The fact is," at length said the memorial shadow of the dean deceased, "Mr.Wingfold is not a gentleman.

It grieves me to say so of the husband of my niece, who has been to me as my own child, but the truth must be spoken.