As he went home to his lodgings he was conscious that the interview had not been satisfactory.  He could not say what more he wanted, but he felt that there was something amiss.  He consoled himself, however, by reminding himself that Florence Burton was the girl whom he had really loved, and not Julia Brabazon.  Lady Ongar had given him no invitation to come and see her, and therefore he determined that he would return home on the following day without going near Bolton street.  He had pictured to himself beforehand the sort of description he would give to Lady Clavering of her sister; but, seeing how things had turned out, he made up his mind that he would say nothing of the meeting.  Indeed, he would not go up to the great house at all.  He had done Lady Clavering’s commission, at some little trouble and expense to himself, and there should be an end of it.  Lady Ongar would not mention that she had seen him.  He doubted, indeed, whether she would remember whom she had seen.  For any good that he had done, or for any sentiment that there had been, his cousin Hugh’s butler might as well have gone to the train.  In this mood he returned home, consoling himself with the fitness of things which had given him Florence Burton instead of Julia Brabazon for a wife.

Chapter VI

The Rev. Samuel Saul

During Harry’s absence in London, a circumstance had occurred at the rectory which had surprised some of them and annoyed others a good deal.  Mr. Saul, the curate, had made an offer to Fanny.  The Rector and Fanny declared themselves to be both surprised and annoyed.  That the Rector was in truth troubled by the thing was very evident.  Mrs. Clavering said that she had almost suspected it—­that she was at any rate not surprised; as to the offer itself of course she was sorry that it should have been made, as it could not suit Fanny to accept it.  Mary was surprised, as she had thought Mr. Saul to be wholly intent on other things; but she could not see any reason why the offer should be regarded as being on his part unreasonable.

“How can you say so, mamma?” Such had been Fanny’s indignant exclamation when Mrs. Clavering had hinted that Mr. Saul’s proceeding had been expected by her.

“Simply because I saw that he liked you, my dear.  Men under such circumstances have different ways of showing their liking.”

Fanny, who had seen all of Mary’s love affair from the beginning to the end, and who had watched the Reverend Edward Fielding in all his very conspicuous manoeuvres, would not agree to this.  Edward Fielding from the first moment of his intimate acquaintance with Mary had left no doubt of his intentions on the mind of any one.  He had talked to Mary and walked with Mary whenever, he was allowed or found it possible to do so.  When driven to talk to Fanny, he had always talked about Mary.  He had been a lover of the good, old, plainspoken stamp, about whom there