"Hem—it is very odd!"
"What's very odd?"
"Why, but it's a secret—I dare say it's all very right."
"Oh, I sha'n't say a word. Are you going to the cathedral?—don't let me keep you standing. Now, pray proceed!"
"Well, then, yesterday I was doing duty in a village more than twenty miles hence, and I loitered in the village to take an early dinner; and, afterwards, while my horse was feeding, I strolled down the green."
"Well—well?"
"And I saw a gentleman muffled carefully up, with his hat slouched over his face, at the door of a cottage, with a little child in his arms, and he kissed it more fondly than, be we ever so good, we generally kiss other people's children; and then he gave it to a peasant woman standing near him, and mounted his horse, which was tied to the gate, and trotted past me; and who do you think this was?"
"Patience me—I can't guess!"
"Why, our saintly banker. I bowed to him, and I assure you he turned as red, ma'am, as your waistband."
"My!"