CHAPTER IV.
Events of such stirring interest as the establishment of Mrs.Goddard in Billingsfield rarely come alone; for it seems to be in the nature of great changes to bring other changes with them, even when there is no apparent connection whatever between them.

It took nearly two years for Billingsfield to recover from its astonishment at Mrs.Goddard's arrival, and before the excitement had completely worn off the village was again taken off its feet by unexpected news of stupendous import, even as of old Pompeii was overthrown by a second earthquake before it had wholly recovered from the devastation caused by the first.

The shock was indeed a severe one.

The Juxon estate was reported to be out of Chancery, and a new squire was coming to take up his residence at the Hall.
It is not known exactly how the thing first became known, but there was soon no doubt whatever that it was true.

Thomas Reid, the sexton, who remembered that the old squire died forty years ago come Michaelmas, and had been buried in a "wonderful heavy" coffin, Thomas Reid the stern censor of the vicar's sermons, a melancholic and sober man, so far lost his head over the news as to ask Mr.Ambrose's leave to ring the bells, Mr.Abraham Boosey having promised beer for the ringers.