One phrase, in particular, was, "If I may be allowed the language," which came readily on all occasions.

If he was asked "How is Mrs.Balne to-day ?" the Captain would reply, "She is quite well, I thank you, Mr.Ramsay, if I may be allowed the language;" or ask him, "Have you a good crop of apples this year ?" "Pretty middling, sir, if I may be allowed the language." The constant recurrence of the phrase struck Mr.Ramsay, who quoted it long after in his letters to his Frome friends--"I am glad to say my congregation at St John's continues good--if I may be allowed the language." Buckland is a larger village than Rodden, containing nearly 500 inhabitants.

The two places are five miles apart.

Buckland is on the brow and slope of a steep hill, the church being on the summit, and the irregular street descending from it on the Frome side, with many cottages scattered about among orchards and meadows.

So the curate of Buckland, living at the Pear-tree Cottage in Rodden, required a pony for locomotion, which he showed with some pride to his neighbours on first buying it.