to me, Lady Jones, to separate myself from my dear parishioners and
friends"--here he eyed the Colonel, with whom he had waged a continual
war during his five years of residence in the parish, and added: "But
we must all give way to the cause of duty and the necessities of health.
Mrs. Tomley says that this part of the country does not agree with
her, and is quite convinced that unless she is taken back to her native
Northumberland air the worst may be expected."

"I fancy that it has arrived in that poor man's case," thought Mary
to herself. Lady Jones, who also knew Mrs. Tomley and the power of her
tongue, nodded her head sympathetically and said:

"Of course, of course. A wife's health must be the first consideration
of every good man. But isn't it rather lonely up there, Mr. Tomley?"

"Lonely, Lady Jones?" the clergyman replied with energy, and shaking his
white lock. "I assure you that the place is a howling desert; a great
moor behind, and the great sea in front, and some rocks and the church
between the two. That's about all, but my wife likes it because she used
to stay at the rectory when she was a little girl. Her uncle was the
incumbent there. She declares that she has never been well since she
left the parish."

"And what did you say is the name of the present inhabitant of this
earthly paradise, the man with whom you have exchanged?" interrupted the
Colonel.

"Fregelius--the Reverend Peter Fregelius."

"What an exceedingly odd name! Is he an Englishman?"