Arriving at the house, James answered for his little girl’s absence of shyness, and she was turned over to the Miss Calcotts, while the Squire conducted him to the study, and began with hesitation and something of apology—­’It had struck him—­it was not worth much—­he hardly liked to propose it, and yet till something better should turn up—­anything was better than doing nothing.’  To which poor James heartily agreed.  The board of guardians, where Mr. Calcott presided, were about to elect a chaplain to the union workhouse; the salary would be only fifty pounds, but if Mr. Frost would be willing to offer himself, it would be a great blessing to the inmates, and there would be no opposition.

Mr. Caloott, making the proposal from sincere goodwill, but with some dread how the Pendragon blood would receive it, was absolutely astounded by the effect.

Fifty pounds additional per annum was a boon only to be appreciated after such a pinching year as the past; the gratitude for the old Squire’s kind pardon was so strong, and the blessing of re-admission to pastoral work touched him so deeply, that, in his weakened and dejected state, he could not restrain his tears, nor for some moments utter a word.  At last he said, ’Oh, Mr. Calcott, I have not deserved this at your hands.’

‘There, there,’ said the Squire, trying to laugh it off, though he too became husky, ’say no more about it.  It is a poor thing, and can’t be made better; but it will be a real kindness to us to look after the place.’

‘Let me say thus much,’ said James, ’for I cannot be at peace till I have done so—­I am aware that I acted unjustifiably in that whole affair, both when elected and dismissed.’

‘No, no, don’t let’s go over that again!’ said Mr. Calcott, in dread of a scene.  ’An over-ardent friend may be a misfortune, and you were very young.  Not that I would have taken your resignation if it had been left to me, but the world is grown mighty tender.  I dare aay you never flogged a boy like what I underwent fifty years ago, and was the better for it,’ and he launched into some frightful old-world stories of the like inflictions, hoping to lead away from personalities, but James was resolved to say what was on his mind.  ‘It was not severity,’ he said, ’it was temper.  I richly deserved some portion of the rebuke, and it would have been well for me if that same temper had allowed me to listen to you, sir, or to reason.’

‘Well,’ said Mr. Calcott, kindly, ’you think very rightly about the matter, and a man of six-and-twenty has time to be wiser, as I tell Mrs. Calcott, when Sydney treats us to some of his theories.  And now you have said your say, you must let me say mine, and that is, that there are very few young couples—­aye, or old ones—­who would have had the sense to go on as you are doing, fighting it out in your own neighbourhood without nonsense or false shame.  I honour you and Mrs. Frost for it, both of you!’