away in Scotland two Sundays last month.'

'In September, Fanny. And that is being censorious.'

'On, but Mark, dear Mark; don't say so. You know I don't mean it.
But Lady Lufton does not like those Chaldicotes people. You know
Lord Lufton was with you the last time you were there; and how annoyed
she was!'

'Lord Lufton won't be there with me now, for he is still in
Scotland. And the reason why I am going is this; Harold Smith and
his wife will be there, and I am very anxious to know more of
them. I have no doubt that Harold Smith will be in the government
some day, and I cannot afford to neglect such a man's
acquaintance.'

'But, Mark, what do you want of any government?'

'Well, Fanny, of course I am bound to say that I want nothing;
neither in once sense do I; but, nevertheless, I shall go and meet
Harold Smith.'

'Could you not be back before Sunday?'

'I have promised to preach at Chaldicotes. Harold Smith's going to
lecture at Barchester, about the Australasian archipelago, and I am
to preach a charity sermon on the same subject. They want to send
out more missionaries.'

'A charity sermon at Chaldicotes!'