"You are a consistent Conservative, Martha, and I admire you," laughed Isabel.
"Thank you, miss; I don't go in for politics and all that rubbish, but I keep my eyes open and see things for myself, and judge accordingly."
"And a very wise plan!" agreed Isabel.
"That is as may be, miss."
"But how about the new heating apparatus and your brother James?" suggested Joanna.
"Well, miss, James never could say if it was a judgment from heaven or whether it was because the chapel-keeper put too much coal on; but anyhow the whole thing caught fire, and burnt part of the wall before it could be put out."
"Was much of the wall burnt?" asked Isabel.
"A nice piece, miss."
Joanna smiled. "Was that why the minister left?"
"Well, miss, after that, Mr. Hickory saw that he had made a mistake; and my brother James advised him to leave Grampton and begin again elsewhere. Before he went, James told him he would do well if he set about helping folks to get new hearts, and left their old heating apparatuses alone. Which was good advice, to my thinking, though it was my own brother as gave it."