It had been built by Dr.Ashton at his own expense.

The old Rectory was a tumbledown, inconvenient place, always in dilapidation, for as soon as one part of it was repaired another fell through; and the Rector opened his heart and his purse, both large and generous, and built a new one.

Mr.Gum was making his way unannounced to the Rector's study, according to custom, when a door on the opposite side of the hall opened, and Dr.Ashton came out.

He was a pleasant-looking man, with dark hair and eyes, his countenance one of keen intellect; and though only of middle height, there was something stately, grand, imposing in his whole appearance.
"Is that you, Jabez ?" Connected with each other for so many years--a connection which had begun when both were young--the Rector and Mrs.Ashton had never called him anything but Jabez.

With other people he was Gum, or Mr.Gum, or Clerk Gum: Jabez with them.