In the course of his walk, Mr Darnley was interrupted and delayed by meeting with Sir George Aimwell and Colonel Crop. People who are not mightily gifted with any great flow of words are sometimes as tedious as professed and notorious praters. For though they do not convey much information, and do not utter any great quantity of words, yet if they have not much to do, and are at a loss for the passing of their time, they will sometimes stand dribbling out monosyllables for half an hour together and more too. Thus did the two troublesome ones above named most mercilessly and remorselessly pounce on the rector of Neverden. The baronet and the colonel were on foot, walking slowly in a direction opposite to that in which the rector was walking. When the clergyman saw the two gentlemen, he felt himself necessitated to lay aside the frowning look of the angry father, and to assume a more gracious and courtier-like smile. And when the two distinguished characters met the reverend gentleman bearing smiles upon his countenance, which smiles were manifestly designed to signify how great was the delight which he felt in meeting the said gentlemen, they could not of course for a moment imagine that he should be very glad to part with those whom he appeared so happy to meet. Therefore the unpaid and the half-paid made at the rector, what is called a dead set. They fairly and completely stopped him; stopped him as completely as a couple of footpads, one on one side of him and the other on the other. They did not indeed demand his money or threaten his life, but they demanded his time, which was to him at that moment as valuable as his money, and they put in danger his politeness, which was as dear to him as life. The first salutations were soon paid, acknowledged, and returned. Then the interrupters stood still looking at Mr Darnley and at each other; and then Mr Darnley having nothing more to say, and fancying that his friends by their silence were similarly situated, made a slight movement, as if indicating an intention of taking leave. But his good friends were not disposed to give him leave; and the worthy baronet then began a short speech by saying, “Oh, Mr Darnley, have you had your newspaper this morning?” Mr Darnley replied very politely, “I have, Sir George.” Then the baronet asked: “Is there anything new?” Then Mr Darnley said, “Nothing, Sir George.” And then Sir George was silent again; and then Mr Darnley, after a little interval, made another move. Then Colonel Crop took up the tale and said, “The papers are very dull now.” To which Mr Darnley suitably and assentingly replied; “Very:”--thinking perhaps at the same time that Colonel Crop was as dull as any of them. Once more Mr Darnley was in hopes of getting away from his tormenting detainers; but the excellent magistrate thinking that it was now his turn to speak, directed himself again to the impatient rector, saying, “What remarkably mild weather it is for the time of year.”