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
had been no mistake. From the first moment of his coming much about
Clavering Rectory the only question had been about his income. "I don't
think Mr. Saul ever said a word to me except about the poor people and
the church services," said Fanny. "That was merely his way," said Mrs.
Clavering. "Then he must be a goose," said Fanny. "I am very sorry if I
have made him unhappy, but he had no business to come to me in that