But Christian Goodheart, the present incumbent, had not given satisfaction, and his Bishop had summoned him to show cause why he should not be removed, and, as we have seen, the Gloomster had gone away broken-hearted. Shortly after having arrived at Nightmare Abbey he was greeted by his wife. "Well, Christian," she said, "what did the Bishop say?" "He wants my resignation," sighed Christian. "He says I have shown myself unworthy, and I fear he has evidence." "Evidence? Against you, my husband, the most disagreeable man in the isle?" cried his wife, fondly. "Yes," sighed Christian. "Do you remember, you old termagant, how, forgetting myself and my position, last Tuesday I laughed when Peter Skelly told us what his baby said to his nurse?" "I do, Christian," the good woman answered. "You laughed heartily, and I warned you to be careful. It is not the Gloomster's place to laugh, and I feared it might reach the Bishop's ears." "It has done so," sighed Christian, shaking his head sadly and wringing his hands in his agony. "It has reached the Bishop's ears. Little Glory Grouse was passing by the door at the moment and saw me. Astonished, the child ran home and told her mother. 'Mommer!' she cried, 'I have seen the Gloomster laugh! I have seen the Gloomster laugh!' The child was cross-questioned, but stuck to her story until Mrs. Grouse was convinced, and told her neighbors, and these neighbors told other neighbors, until the story came to the ears of Canon Cashman, by whom it was conveyed to the Bishop himself." "What a little gossip that Glory Grouse is! She'll come to a bad end, mark my words!" cried Mrs. Goodheart, angrily. "She'll have her honored father's name on the circus posters yet." "Do not blame the child," said Christian, sadly. "She was right. Who had ever seen a Gloomster smile before? As well expect a ray of sunshine or a glimpse of humor in a Manx novel--" "But the Bishop is not going to remove you for one false step, is he, Christian? He cannot do that, can he?" pleaded the woman. "That is what I asked him," Christian answered. "And he handed me a type-written memorandum of what he called my record. It seems that for six months they have been spying upon me. Read it for yourself." Mrs. Goodheart took the paper and read, with trembling hands: "'January 1, 1898--wished Peggy Meguire a happy New Year.' Did you really, Christian?" "I don't remember doing so," sighed the Gloomster. "If I did, it must have been in sarcasm, for I hate Peggy Meguire, and I am sure I wish her nothing of the sort. I told the Bishop so, but all he would say was, 'Read on.'" [Illustration: WISHED HER A HAPPY NEW-YEAR] "'February 23, 1898,'" Mrs. Goodheart continued, reading from the paper--"'took off his coat and wrapped it about the shivering form of a freezing woman.' "How very imprudent of you, Christian!" said his wife.