As, however, he was so near Smatterton, he would not of course return to London without seeing Mrs Greendale, and thanking her for the kind attention which she had paid to Penelope. He was not aware that the good lady had plagued and worried the poor girl almost out of her life. Dr Greendale had never, in his communications to Mr Primrose, said anything about the annoying fidgettiness of Mrs Greendale; and he himself, by virtue of his close and constant application to study, had not felt much inconvenience from her temper, excepting so far as an occasional interruption, which was soon forgotten. But poor Penelope did not study controversial theology, and therefore she had felt all the inconvenience of Mrs Greendale’s humours and caprices. Of all this Mr Primrose knew nothing; he therefore resolved to call and pay his respects to the widow. Having learned a lesson of forethought from his long fruitless journey, he did not proceed to Smatterton before he had enquired of Mr Darnley if Mrs Greendale yet resided there. By this enquiry he learned that the living had been disposed of, and that as the new rector was a young and single man, and though he had taken possession of the rectory-house, he had been kind enough to accommodate Mrs Greendale with a residence there till it might suit her to change the place of her abode. “That is very kind of the young man,” said Mr Primrose; “I like him for it: and pray what is his name and where does he come from?” Mr Darnley at these questions put on one of his stately professional looks, and said: “His name, sir, is Pringle, he comes from the university of Oxford, he is a son of Lord Smatterton’s steward. At present I have but little acquaintance with him.”