He has inquired, he has been, a pompous old gentleman with a slow voice and a single lock of white hair above his forehead; he says that it is satisfactory, and that, subject to the consent of the bishop, etc., he thinks that he will be glad to effect the exchange.

Afterwards I found him in front of the house staring at the moorland behind, the sea in front, and the church in the middle, and looking very wretched.

I asked him why he wanted to do it--the words popped out of my mouth, I couldn't help them; it was all so odd.
"Then I found out the reason.

Mr.Tomley has a wife who is, or thinks she is--I am not sure which--an invalid, and who, I gather, speaks to Mr.Tomley with no uncertain sound.

Mr.Tomley's wife was the niece of a long-departed rector who was inducted in 1815, and reigned here for forty-five years.