In fact, I was waiting here to meet you." "What for, Anthony?
Nothing wrong up at the Hall, I hope." "No, Mr.Walrond; why should there be anything wrong there ?" "I don't know, I am sure, only as a rule people don't wait for the parson unless there is something amiss, and there seems to be so much misfortune in this parish just now.

Well, what is it, my boy ?" "I want to know about Barbara, Mr.Walrond.They tell me she is very bad, but I can't get anything definite from the others, I mean from her sisters.

They don't seem to be sure, and the doctor wouldn't say when I asked him." The Reverend Septimus looked at Anthony and Anthony looked at the Reverend Septimus, and in that look they learned to understand each other.

The agony that was eating out this poor father's heart was not peculiar to him; another shared it.

In what he would have called his "wicked selfishness" the Reverend Septimus felt almost grateful for this sudden revelation.