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"And how fares your controversy at Leasan? I see by my 'Newsletter' that those who won't swear are to go."

"I shall go—and so will two-thirds of the clergy on the Establishment."

"Two-thirds?" Charles raised his eyebrows. "I shouldn't have thought two-tenths. But whether you go with the majority or the minority I'm glad that you go. You've been Parson of a parish long enough."

"Eh, how's that?" Gervase was surprised and a little annoyed to find his brother so accurately expressing his recent thoughts.

"You've been Vicar of Leasan more than twenty years. It was a bad scheme of my father's to put you in; but doubtless he thought it would lead to something better."

"And what better am I to have now?"

"You will be able to lead the life of a scholar and a gentleman. Both my wife and I will be glad for you to settle here—our family's too small for such a place."

Gervase was pleased to find his brother proposing what he himself had meant to ask at a more favourable opportunity.

"But, remember, I'm not alone. If your family's small, mine's large—too large, since there's no variety in it."