CHAPTER XII.
CONCERNING A SERMON WHICH NEVER WAS PREACHED AND OTHER MATTERS OF LOCAL INTEREST Before passing on to more dignified matters, that period of nine days demands to be noted during which the inhabitants of Deadham, all very much agog, celebrated the wonder of Miss Bilson's indisputable disappearance and Damaris Verity's reported adventure.
Concerning the former, Dr.Horniblow, good man, took himself seriously to task, deploring his past action and debating his present duty.
"It is no use, Jane," he lamented to his wife.

The two had retired for the night, darkness and the bedclothes covering them.

"I am very much worried about my share in the matter." "But, my dear James, you really are overscrupulous.

What share had you ?" The clerical wife does not always see eye to eye with her spouse in respect of his female parishioners, more particularly, perhaps, the unmarried ones.

Mrs.Horniblow loved, honoured, and--within reasonable limits--obeyed her James; but this neither prevented her being shrewd, nor knowing her James, after all, to be human.