[The House by the Church-Yard by J. Sheridan Le Fanu]@TWC D-Link book
The House by the Church-Yard

CHAPTER III
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The turnpike rogue--just round the corner there--one of the talkingest gossips in the town--and a confounded prying, tattling place it is, I can tell you--knows the driver; and Bob Martin, the sexton, you know--tells me there were two parsons, no less--hey! Cauliflowers in season, by Jove.

Old Dr.
Walsingham, our rector, a pious man, Sir, and does a world of good--that is to say, relieves half the blackguards in the parish--ha! ha! when we're on the point of getting rid of them--but means well, only he's a little bit lazy, and queer, you know; and that rancid, raw-boned parson, Gillespie--how the plague did they pick him up ?--one of the mutes told Bob 'twas he.

He's from Donegal; I know all about him; the sourest dog I ever broke bread with--and mason, if you please, by Jove--a prince pelican! He supped at the Grand Lodge after labour, one night--_you're_ not a mason, I see; tipt you the sign--and his face was so pinched, and so yellow, by Jupiter, I was near squeezing it into the punch-bowl for a lemon--ha! ha! hey ?' Mervyn's large eyes expressed a well-bred surprise.

Dr.Toole paused for nearly a minute, as if expecting something in return; but it did not come.
So the doctor started afresh, never caring for Mervyn's somewhat dangerous looks.
'Mighty pretty prospects about here, Sir.

The painters come out by dozens in the summer, with their books and pencils, and scratch away like so many Scotchmen.


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