"Your lordship may rely upon it that there are few men, young or old, who are so intrinsically deserving as the Halliburtons."
"I know it," said the bishop. "They interested me as lads, and I have watched them ever since."
And that is how Gar became Vicar of Deoffam.
"You will be trying for a minor canonry now, Gar, I suppose, living so near to it?" observed Jane.
"Mrs. Halliburton, will you be so kind as not to put unsuitable notions into his head?" interrupted Frank. "The Reverend Gar must look out for a canonry, not a minor. And he won't stop there. When I am on the woolsack, in my place in the Lords, Gar may be opposite to me, a spiritual peer."
Jane laughed, as did Frank. Who knew, though? It all lay in the future.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A DYING CONFESSION.
Meanwhile William Halliburton and his wife had crossed the Channel. Amongst other letters, written home to convey news of them, was the following. It was written by Mary to Mrs. Ashley, after they had been abroad a week or two.