4/20 Perhaps you may have fallen in with him. They tell me he's a very promising young man.' 'What is his name ?' 'Prothero, sir--Rowland Prothero.' 'I do not know him personally, but I know him by reputation; he is curate of an old friend of mine, Mr Stephenson.' 'To be seure--Rowly's rector! Allow me to shake hands with you, sir. Your daughter looks very ill and tired; perhaps it may--' 'Not a bit, sir. She's not my daughter; she always looks as pale as moonlight, 'scept when she blushes up; she'll see to a bed for a strange gentleman, and so'll my missus. To think of your knowing Mr Stephenson!' 'Yes, I saw him during my short stay in town, and he told me he had a capital curate, a countryman of mine. |