Fanny played with a flower. “Is it possible!”
“I thought so,” he said humbly. “The offer came unsought, and it did not appear to me that I should be right to reject it until to-day. To-day I had a letter.”
“From the Duke?”
“No. From the wife of a man who, it appears, hoped to have had the living.”
“Men hope easily.”
“He had grounds. The Duke replied to him that if he had not offered it already to me, he should have been glad to have assisted him.”
“He had applied for it! What becomes of your scruples in such a case?”
“They belong only to myself. Heaven forbid that I should judge a man who has worked on a pittance, and is saddled with half-a-dozen children.”
“Oh, of course!” cried Lady Fanny pettishly. “I wanted to hear that conclusion. Are you certain there are only six?” He went on, unheeding.
“There can be no doubt that he wants it more. And he is a good man. I know him. He will work the parish well.”