"Why did the last one leave?" Douglas asked.
"He was not big enough for the work, so I learned from the brief conversation I had with Mr. Stubbles. It is a most difficult parish, composed principally of mill-men, woodsmen, and a few farmers. It seems that the last clergyman used no tact at all in dealing with them, and thus antagonised everybody, Mr. Stubbles included."
"So you think that I would suit, do you?" and Douglas looked quizzically at Dr. Rannage.
"I believe you are just the man for the place."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you know the ways of such people. You were born in the country, were you not?"
"Why not let young Harmon have a try there? He is one of your boys, and has just been ordained. Would it not be well for him to win his spurs in a parish such as Rixton?"
"Oh, but he is a banker's son, you know, and we could not think of sending him there."
"So I supposed," was the bitter reply, "though I never for a moment imagined that you would so candidly acknowledge it."
"Acknowledge what?" Dr. Rannage queried.