One day, however, a new curate arrived, and that woke things up considerably.

He was a nice young man, and, having a large private income of his own, was altogether a most desirable catch.

Every unmarried female in the place went for him with one accord.
"But ordinary feminine blandishments appeared to have no effect upon him.
He was a seriously inclined young man, and once, in the course of a casual conversation upon the subject of love, he was heard to say that he himself should never be attracted by mere beauty and charm.

What would appeal to him, he said, would be a woman's goodness--her charity and kindliness to the poor.
"Well, that set the petticoats all thinking.

They saw that in studying fashion plates and practising expressions they had been going upon the wrong tack.