Her life was very quiet; it was natural that she should take whatever diversion came in her way, and should even be thankful for it.

Mr.Juxon was an honest gentleman, a scholar and a man who had seen the world.

If what he said was not always very original it was always very true, a merit not always conceded to the highest originality.

He spoke intelligently; he told her the news; he lent her the newest books and reviews, and offered her his opinions upon them, with the regularity of a daily paper.

In such a place, where communications with the outer world seemed as difficult as at the antipodes, and where the remainder of society was limited to the household of the vicarage, what wonder was it if she found Mr.Juxon an agreeable companion, and believed the companionship harmless?
But far down in the involutions of her feminine consciousness there was present a perpetual curiosity in regard to the squire, a curiosity she never expected to satisfy, but was wholly unable to repress.