“Yes; a clerk came to me from the banker’s.”

“Dreadful, is it not?  Quite terrible to think of!”

“Indeed it is, sir.  I was never so shocked in my life.”

“He would go in that cursed boat, though I know that he was advised against it,” said the father, holding up his hands and shaking his head.  “And now both of them gone—­both gone at once!”

“How does she bear it?”

“Your mother is with her now.  When I went in the morning—­I had written a line, and she expected bad news—­she fainted.  Of course, I could do nothing.  I can hardly say that I told her.  She asked the question, and then saw by my face that her fears were well founded.  Upon my word, I was glad when she did faint; it was the best thing for her.”

“It must have been very painful for you.”

“Terrible—­terrible;” and the rector shook his head.  “It will make a great difference in your prospects, Harry.”

“And in your life, sir!  So to say, you are as young a man as myself.”

“Am I?  I believe I was about as young when you were born.  But I don’t think at all about myself in this matter.  I am too old to care to change my manner of living.  It won’t affect me very much.  Indeed, I hardly know yet how it may affect me.  Your mother thinks I ought to give up the living.  If you were in orders, Harry—­”

“I’m very glad, sir, that I am not.”

“I suppose so.  And there is no need—­certainly there is no need.  You will be able to do pretty nearly what you like about the property.  I shall not care to interfere.”

“Yes you will, sir.  It feels strange now, but you will soon get used to it.  I wonder whether he left a will.”

“It can’t make any difference to you, you know.  Every acre of the property is entailed.  She has her settlement.  Eight hundred a year, I think it is.  She’ll not be a rich woman like her sister.  I wonder where she’ll live.  As far as that goes, she might stay at the house, if she likes it.  I’m sure your mother wouldn’t object.”

Harry on this occasion asked no questions about the living, but he also had thought of that.  He knew well that his mother would befriend Mr. Saul. and he knew also that his father would ultimately take his mother’s advice.  As regarded himself he had no personal objection to Mr. Saul, though he could not understand how his sister should feel any strong regard for such a man.

Edward Fielding would make a better neighbor at the parsonage, and then he thought whether an exchange might not be made.  After that, and before his mother’s return from the great house, he took a stroll through the park with Fanny.  Fanny altogether declined to discuss any of the family prospects as they were affected by the accident which had happened.  To her mind the tragedy was so terrible that she could only feel its tragic element.  No doubt she had her own thoughts about Mr. Saul as connected with