“In her bedroom, putting her baby to sleep,” replied Hetty.
“Well, I am glad the child is not here just now. I have bad news to tell you, my dear.”
“Eh? Bad news? What is it, Jimmy? But, dear me, don’t look so dreadfully cast down! It cannot be such awfully bad news, since you, I, Jennie and the baby are all safe and sound in the house. But what, then, is your bad news?”
“I have lost my position here, and we shall have to leave the rectory,” replied Mr. Campbell in a tone of despair.
“Let me take a look at you?” said his wife, rising, giving him her hand, helping him to his feet, and surveying him all around. “Well, I don’t see that you have lost a limb, or any mental or bodily faculty, that you need look so woebegone! As for losing your position, of course you lost that when the old rector died; and as for leaving the rectory, we all knew that we should have to do that.”
“Yes, but not so soon. We shall have to vacate by the first of January.”
“Well, that gives us plenty of time to choose new lodgings. I would not ‘fash my beard’ about that, if I were you, Jimmy! But why must we move by that time?”
“Because my successor, or rather Dr. Orton’s successor, is appointed.”
“Already!”
“Yes, already.”