“And he is trying to save it.”
“We all are, I hope.”
“I beg your pardon, Nell; the phenomenon in these days is a psychological rarity, and, being rare, is naturally interesting. It is one of the obscure problems of cerebration. Ah! here comes your vicar.”
With a bright smile Mrs. Haldane advanced to meet him, and cordially shook hands with him. “You must allow me to introduce you to my husband. George, Mr. Santley.”
“My wife tells me,” said Mr. Haldane, as they shook hands, “that she was an old pupil of yours.”
“Yes,” said the vicar, with an uneasy glance towards her, “many years ago.”
“It is a little curious,” continued Mr. Haldane, “how people lose sight of each other for years, and then are unexpectedly thrown together into the same small social circle, after they have quite forgotten each others existence.”
The vicar winced at the last words, but replied with a faint smile, “The great world is, after all, a very little world.”
“Ah, my dear sir, I see I have started a familiar train of thought—the littleness of the world,” said Mr. Haldane, with a dry light in his eyes.
“And you fear I may improve the occasion?” asked the vicar a little coldly.