"I suppose the living of Surley would hardly give you that opportunity, would it?" asked Ella. "I think there are fewer inhabitants, and it is a poor little church."
"Oh, yes, dear Mrs. Carruthers, it certainly would," said Mrs. Mercer. "The Rector of Surley has always been a person of importance. Even old Mr. Cooper was, though compared with my husband—"
"Oh, please, my dear!" interposed her husband. "Let me speak for myself. Your question wants considering, Mrs. Carruthers. It is true, as my wife says, that the Rector of Surley has always been considered a person of some weight in the Diocese. The last two incumbents were Rural Deans, and Mr. Cooper would have been so if he had not considered himself too old when the office fell vacant. Yes, I think I may say that the Rectorate of Surley would provide scope for a man anxious to serve in the way we have been discussing, though it was not actually the sort of position I had in my mind. But I should think it probable that his Lordship has already made his decision. If not, and you have an opportunity of whispering a word in his ear, dear lady, warn him against such a grave mistake as the appointment of young Cooper would be. I speak—"
"But don't, for goodness sake, tell Rhoda and Ethel that my husband advised you to," interrupted Mrs. Mercer. "We should never hear the last of it."
The Vicar showed signs of acute annoyance. "Really, Gertrude!" he said. "One would think I was doing something underhand in speaking as I do."
"Well, dear, of course we have both sympathised with them when they told us of their hopes. I know it was only to—"
But he would not let her go on. "For young Cooper as a man I have the utmost respect," he said, "and if he were twenty or even perhaps ten years older and had proved himself in his sacred calling, as he will do—as I'm sure he will do—I should say institute him as Rector of Surley, and the blessing of God go with him. But it is not a personal question. Religion is too sacred a thing to be treated in that way, and I have a duty to perform that can't be tampered with. For the Bishop's own sake he should be warned against making a mistake of that sort, Rhoda and Ethel or no Rhoda and Ethel."
"Well, Ella," said Grafton, rising, "you know what to do and say, if you're asked. I'm sorry for young Denis, because I should like to see him settled in a good fat living. But you see it wouldn't do, and your uncle ought to be warned against it."
The Vicar also rose. "At the same time," he said, "I shouldn't like it to be thought that the advice had come from me. It might almost look as if I wanted the living for myself, and I should greatly dislike that idea going abroad."