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humble entry into the village； unknown； and almost unseen。 But when
those of the inhabitants who styled themselves of his connection
became acquainted with him； they were rather pleased with the
substitute than otherwise； though he had scarcely as yet acquired
ballast of character sufficient to steady the consciences of the
hundred…and…forty Methodists of pure blood who； at this time； lived
in Nether…Moynton； and to give in addition supplementary support to
the mixed race which went to church in the morning and chapel in the
evening； or when there was a teaas many as a hundred…and…ten
people more； all told； and including the parish…clerk in the winter…
time； when it was too dark for the vicar to observe who passed up
the street at seven o'clockwhich； to be just to him； he was never
anxious to do。
It was owing to this overlapping of creeds that the celebrated
population…puzzle arose among the denser gentry of the district
around Nether…Moynton： how could it be that a parish containing
fifteen score of strong full…grown Episcopalians； and nearly
thirteen score of well…matured Dissenters； numbered barely two…and…
twenty score adults in all？
The young man being personally interesting； those with whom he came
in contact were content to waive for a while the graver question of
his sufficiency。 It is said that at this time of his life his eyes
were affectionate； though without a ray of levity； that his hair was
curly； and his figure tall； that he was； in short； a very lovable
youth； who won upon his female hearers as soon as they saw and heard
him； and caused them to say； 'Why didn't we know of this before he
came； that we might have gied him a warmer welcome！'
The fact was that； knowing him to be only provisionally selected；
and expecting nothing remarkable in his person or doctrine； they and
the rest of his flock in Nether…Moynton had felt almost as
indifferent about his advent as if they had been the soundest
church…going parishioners in the country； and he their true and
appointed parson。 Thus when Stockdale set foot in the place nobody
had secured a lodging for him； and though his journey had given him
a bad cold in the head； he was forced to attend to that business
himself。 On inquiry he learnt that the only possible accommodation
in the village would be found at the house of one Mrs。 Lizzy
Newberry； at the upper end of the street。
It was a youth who gave this information； and Stockdale asked him
who Mrs。 Newberry might be。
The boy said that she was a widow…woman； who had got no husband；
because he was dead。 Mr。 Newberry； he added； had been a well…to…do
man enough； as the saying was； and a farmer； but he had gone off in
a decline。 As regarded Mrs。 Newberry's serious side； Stockdale
gathered that she was one of the trimmers who went to church and
chapel both。
'I'll go there；' said Stockdale； feeling that； in the absence of
purely sectarian lodgings； he could do no better。
'She's a little particular； and won't hae gover'ment folks； or
curates； or the pa'son's friends； or such like；' said the lad
dubiously。
'Ah； that may be a promising sign： I'll call。 Or no； just you go
up and ask first if she can find room for me。 I have to see one or
two persons on another matter。 You will find me down at the
carrier's。'
In a quarter of an hour the lad came back； and said that Mrs。
Newberry would have no objection to accommodate him； whereupon
Stockdale called at the house。
It stood within a garden…hedge； and seemed to be roomy and
comfortable。 He saw an elderly woman； with whom he made
arrangements to come the same night； since there was no inn in the
place； and he wished to house himself as soon as possible； the
village being a local centre from which he was to radiate at once to
the different small chapels in the neighbourhood。 He forthwith sent
his luggage to Mrs。 Newberry's from the carrier's； where he had
taken shelter； and in the evening walked up to his temporary home。
As he now lived there； Stockdale felt it unnecessary to knock at the
door； and entering quietly he had the pleasure of hearing footsteps
scudding away like mice into the back quarters。 He advanced to the
parlour； as the front room was called； though its stone floor was
scarcely disguised by the carpet； which only over…laid the trodden
areas； leaving sandy deserts under the bulging mouldings of the
table…legs； playing with brass furniture。 But the room looked snug
and cheerful。 The firelight shone out brightly； trembling on the
knobs and handles； and lurking in great strength on the under
surface of the chimney…piece。 A deep arm…chair； covered with
horsehair； and studded with a countless throng of brass nails； was
pulled up on one side of the fireplace。 The tea…things were on the
table； the teapot cover was open； and a little hand…bell had been
laid at that precise point towards which a person seated in the
great chair might be expected instinctively to stretch his hand。
Stockdale sat down； not objecting to his experience of the room thus
far； and began his residence by tinkling the bell。 A little girl
crept in at the summons； and made tea for him。 Her name； she said；
was Marther Sarer； and she lived out there； nodding towards the road
and village generally。 Before Stockdale had got far with his meal；
a tap sounded on the door behind him； and on his telling the
inquirer to come in； a rustle of garments caused him to turn his
head。 He saw before him a fine and extremely well…made young woman；
with dark hair； a wide； sensible； beautiful forehead； eyes that
warmed him before he knew it； and a mouth that was in itself a
picture to all appreciative souls。
'Can I get you anything else for tea？' she said； coming forward a
step or two； an expression of liveliness on her features； and her
hand waving the door by its edge。
'Nothing； thank you；' said Stockdale； thinking less of what he
replied than of what might be her relation to the household。
'You are quite sure？' said the young woman； apparently aware that he
had not considered his answer。
He conscientiously examined the tea…things； and found them all
there。 'Quite sure； Miss Newberry；' he said。
'It is Mrs。 Newberry；' she said。 'Lizzy Newberry； I used to be
Lizzy Simpkins。'
'O； I beg your pardon； Mrs。 Newberry。' And before he had occasion
to say more she left the room。
Stockdale remained in some doubt till Martha Sarah came to clear the
table。 'Whose house is this； my little woman；' said he。
'Mrs。 Lizzy Newberry's； sir。'
'Then Mrs。 Newberry is not the old lady I saw this afternoon？'
'No。 That's Mrs。 Newberry's mother。 It was Mrs。 Newberry who comed
in to you just by now； because she wanted to see if you was good…
looking。'
Later in the evening； when Stockdale was about to begin supper； she
came again。 'I have come myself； Mr。 Stockdale；' she said。 The
minister stood up in acknowledgment of the honour。 'I am afraid
little Marther might not make you understand。 What will you have
for supper？there's cold rabbit； and there's a ham uncut。'
Stockdale said he could get on nicely with those viands； and supper
was laid。 He had no more than cut a slice when tap…tap came to the
door again。 The minister had already learnt that this particular
rhythm in taps denoted the fingers of his enkindling landlady； and
the doomed young fellow buried his first mouthful under a look of
receptive blandness。
'We have a chicken in the house； Mr。 StockdaleI quite forgot to
mention it just now。 Perhaps you would like Marther Sarer to bring
it up？'
Stockdale had advanced far enough in the art of being a young man to
say that he did not want the chicken； unless she brought it up
herself； but when it was uttered he blushed at the daring gallantry
of the speech； perhaps a shade too strong for a serious man and a
minister。 In three minutes the chicken appeared； but； to his great
surprise； only in the hands of Martha Sarah。 Stockdale was
disappointed； which perhaps it was intended that he should be。
He had finished supper； and was not in the least anticipating Mrs。
Newberry again that night； when she tapped and entered as before。
Stockdale's gratified look told that she had lost nothing by not
appearing when expected。 It happened that the cold in the head from
which the young man suffered had increased with the approach of
night； and before she had spoken he was seized with a violent fit of
sneezing which he could not anyhow repress。
Mrs。 Newberry looked full of pity。 'Your cold is very bad to…night；
Mr。 Stockdale。'
Stockdale replied that it was rather troublesome。
'And I've a good mind'she added archly； looking at the cheerless
glass of water on the table； which the abstemious minister was going
to drink。
'Yes； Mrs。 Newberry？'
'I've a good mind that you should have something more likely to cure
it than that cold stuff。'
'Well；' said Stockdale； looking down at the glass； 'as there is no
inn here； and nothing better to be got in the village； of course it
will do。'
To this she replied； 'There is something better； not far off； though
not in the house。 I really think you must try it； or you may be
ill。 Yes； Mr。 Stockdale；