"I wonder what Mr Mawley would say, to hear you run down his favourite party so!"--I said, when he gave me another opening to put in a word.--"He's such a rabid Liberal." "Mawley is thorough," said the vicar; "I do not agree with his views, certainly; but _he_ really believes in them and acts up to his theories, which is more than can be said for a good many of our `Liberal' statesmen! What can _one_ think of them when one hears them talking of `economy,' and cutting down the poor clerk's salary, without dreaming of touching their own little snug incomes of five thousand a-year!" "But what has all this got to do with Frank's appointment, brother?" asked Miss Pimpernell, with a sly chuckle of satisfaction. She always said she disliked arguments; but, she was never better pleased than to hear the vicar expressing his sentiments on topics of the day. He was so earnest and delighted when he got a good listener--although, he was rather shy of speaking before strangers. "Dear me!"--exclaimed the vicar, rubbing his forehead vigorously.--"I declare, I thought I was talking to Parole d'Honneur! You must forgive me, Frank." "Do you think you could manage to get him an appointment, my dear?"-- repeated my little old friend, bringing the vicar back to our main question, now that she had unhorsed him from his Radical charger. "Yes, certainly,"--replied the vicar, cordially,--"I do not see why I should not. I'll speak to the bishop to-morrow, if I can catch him in. He's got some good influence with the ministry; and, with mine in conjunction, the two of us together ought to manage it, eh, Sally?" "And how soon do you think, sir,"--I asked,--"would you be likely to procure it for me? I've been a long time idle; and, I am, now, anxious, you know, to make up for lost time." Miss Pimpernell's words had thoroughly spurred me up. I wanted to set to work for Min at once. "How soon, eh, my boy?"--said he, kindly.--"You must have some special object to be so anxious for employment! But, you need not be shy, Frank; I can guess it, I think, without your telling me; and, I'm glad of it. How soon, eh? Let me consider. If I see the bishop to-morrow, as I very likely shall, we might arrange to get you a nomination in a fortnight, I think; but, I'm certain, I can promise obtaining it within a month at the outside. Will that do, Frank?" "Oh, thank you, sir!"--I exclaimed, in grateful gladness,--"that is ever so much sooner than I expected! I thought it might take months to get me an appointment! I shall be ready for it, however, when it comes, all the same, dear sir." "You had better get crammed in the meantime, however, my boy," said the vicar, reflectively.