“Ah!” he exclaimed. “Well, if they are anything like my little secretary, they will do.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Burton do not know that I have any thought of suggesting them to you, Mr. Horn. Nor have I the least idea whether or not they would accept the post. Mr. Burton holds a good position on the railway, in Birmingham, which I know he has no present intention of relinquishing. But there is not another couple of my acquaintance who would be likely to meet your wishes as well as these good friends of mine. You know, of course, that Miss Owen was found and rescued by them, when she was quite a little thing?”
“Yes,” was the thoughtful reply; “and you really think they are the kind of persons I want?”
“I do, indeed.”
“Well, well! But might I ask them, do you think?”
“Perhaps,” said Mr. Durnford, “it would be as well to mention it to Miss Owen first.”
“Might I do that, think you?”
“By all means!”
“Then I will.”
He spoke to his secretary that very day. Miss Owen was delighted with the proposal, and approved of it with all her heart. She hoped Mr. and Mrs. Burton would consent, and felt almost sure that they would. After that the minister agreed to convey the request of “the Golden Shoemaker” to his good friends. For this purpose, he made a journey to Birmingham, and, on the evening of his return, called on “Cobbler” Horn.