The REV. Miles Latimer (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. A VILLAGE VERDICT. Why flash those sparks of fury from your eyes ? Remember, where the judgment's weak, the prejudice is strong. "IF you are going to do any visiting in the village this morning, aunt, will you please ask me to go with you ? " This was Monday, and Mrs. Halliday had appeared in the parlour with her bonnet and mantle on, and a basket of jellies and tracts in her hand. " My dear child, I only want to call onan old woman who has been ill, and two or three other parishioners; it is not visiting in the sense in which you would talk of visits." " I know; but I should like to go, if you will have me." " You will find it dull work, I am afraid. You declined with a face of horror when I asked you on Friday; what makes you think differently to-day ? " " Did you never hear of a girl changing her mind ?" asked Miss Gaythorne, saucily. " I want something to do." " Poor Rachel! you will feel that want still more in another week," said Mrs. Halliday, wondering when Captain Fairfax was coming, for it is a serious consideration to have a fashionable girl on your hands ina place like Gatby. " There is nothing ever happening here, you see; no parties to go to, no conquests to be made." Was it that remark which started in Rachel's mind a train of ideas leading at length to Mr. Latimer, or had she thought of him before on that day ? Think of him she did while she donned her becoming hat and coquettish cape, and anent him was her first remark when she, with her aunt, was walking to the village. For last night Mr. Halliday had merely asked Rachel what she thought of Mr. Latimer, and Rachel had answered, " I have not thought much about him," whereupon the Rector had let the subject drop. "Why did Mr. Latimer come here?" she suddenly demande...