“What does it matter where it is?  He can put it anywhere he likes on the Green.  However, I had better go to him.”  So Mr. Clavering went.  Cumberly Green was a hamlet in the parish of Clavering, three miles distant from the church, the people of which had got into a wicked habit of going to a dissenting chapel near to them.  By Mr. Saul’s energy, but chiefly out of Mr. Clavering’s purse, an iron chapel had been purchased for a hundred and fifty pounds, and Mr. Saul proposed to add to his own duties the pleasing occupation of walking to Cumberly Green every Sunday morning before breakfast, and every Wednesday evening after dinner, to perform a service and bring back to the true flock as many of the erring sheep of Cumberly Green as he might be able to catch.  Towards the purchase of this iron church Mr. Clavering had at first given a hundred pounds.  Sir Hugh, in answer to the fifth application, had very ungraciously, through his steward, bestowed ten pounds.  Among the farmers one pound nine and eightpence had been collected.  Mr. Saul had given two pounds; Mrs. Clavering gave five pounds; the girls gave ten shillings each; Henry Clavering gave five pounds—­and then the parson made up the remainder.  But Mr. Saul had journeyed thrice painfully to Bristol, making the bargain for the church, going and coming each time by third-class, and he had written all the letters; but Mrs. Clavering had paid the postage, and she and the girls between them were making the covering for the little altar.

“Is it all settled, Harry?” said Fanny, stopping with her brother, and hanging over his chair.  She was a pretty, gay-spirited girl, with bright eyes and dark brown hair, which fell in two curls behind her ears.

“He has said nothing to unsettle it.”

“I know it makes him very unhappy.”

“No, Fanny, not very unhappy.  He would rather that I should go into the church, but that is about all.”

“I think you are quite right.”

“And Mary thinks I am quite wrong.”

“Mary thinks so, of course.  So should I, too, perhaps, if I were engaged to a clergyman.  That’s the old story of the fox who had lost his tail.”

“And your tail isn’t gone yet?”

“No, my tail isn’t gone yet.  Mary thinks that no life is like a clergyman’s life.  But, Harry, though mamma hasn’t said so, I’m sure she thinks you are right.  She won’t say so as long as it may seem to interfere with anything papa may choose to say; but I’m sure she’s glad in her heart.”

“And I am glad in my heart, Fanny.  And as I’m the person most concerned I suppose that’s the most material thing.”  Then they followed their father into the drawing room.