As for the village near us, there was but one person living in it whom my mistress could think of asking to the Hall, and that person was the clergyman who did duty at the church.
This gentleman's name was Mr.Meeke.He was a single man, very young, and very lonely in his position.

He had a mild, melancholy, pasty-looking face, and was as shy and soft-spoken as a little girl--altogether, what one may call, without being unjust or severe, a poor, weak creature, and, out of all sight, the very worst preacher I ever sat under in my life.

The one thing he did, which, as I heard, he could really do well, was playing on the fiddle.

He was uncommonly fond of music--so much so that he often took his instrument out with him when he went for a walk.

This taste of his was his great recommendation to my mistress, who was a wonderfully fine player on the piano, and who was delighted to get such a performer as Mr.Meeke to play duets with her.
Besides liking his society for this reason, she felt for him in his lonely position; naturally enough, I think, considering how often she was left in solitude herself.