“I did not mean to say any thing at present,” replied Mrs. Paine; “but, as Dora has said so much, I will explain. Hilary, dear, we are going to leave you!”
“Leave us!” said Hilary, amazed; “dear Mrs. Paine, what do you mean?”
“The Rector of Copseley is dead, and you know my husband had the promise of the living.”
“Oh! I remember; I am very sorry; that is, I am glad for you, but sorry for us, for my father, for all: it will be hard to part;” and the tears came into her eyes as she spoke.
“Do not trouble yourself to be glad,” said Mrs. Paine, affectionately, “I shall be most truly sorry when the time comes to part; but it will not be yet; we shall not move till the spring, I believe.”
“That is a comfort,” said Hilary; “what has Mr. Ufford to do with it?”
“Nothing at present,” said Isabel, quickly, as if to prevent Dora from answering. “That depends on your father, of course. But if Mr. Duncan could like him for a successor to Mr. Paine, we should be very glad!”
“Oh!” was Hilary’s answer. On such a point she had little to say. She knew that Mr. Paine’s opinion would have great influence with her father; and she thought his judgment might be trusted. If he approved of Mr. Ufford, all would be right; and this she should soon learn from his wife.
“Mr. Ufford is a man of very good family,” said Isabel, presently. “He is the third son of Lord Dunsmore; and though his fortune is small for his rank, I think you would find him an acquisition at Hurstdene. He is very pleasant, and really a good clergyman.”
Perhaps the thought how little either fortune or rank had to do with this latter recommendation which passed through Miss Duncan’s mind, prevented her answering this rather complicated speech. She felt sure also that Mr. Barham must have some private motive for interesting himself in the curate of Hurstdene; so she resolved to wait before she gave any opinion relative to her own feelings on the subject. It was one which too nearly concerned their own domestic comfort to be lightly treated, had there been no higher motives, or more important objects connected with it.