Mrs. Colville smiled faintly. “I am not ill, darling,” she said, “but--but--the new rector is appointed, and we must leave this house next week;” and overcome by the idea of quitting the home where she had passed so many happy years with him who was no more, but whom she had loved, nay, _still_ loved so well (for hers was one of those rare and true affections which only _begin_ on earth), the widow burst into tears. In an instant, Emily flew to her side, quietly removed her bonnet, and then, with the delicate instinct of a true woman’s nature, feeling that her sympathy could best be shown by silent tenderness, she gently drew her mother’s head towards her till it rested on her bosom, and suffered her to weep unrestrained. But Mrs Colville, although on this occasion the suddenness of the shock had overcome her habitual self-control, was by no means a weak character, and she soon recovered herself. “I did not mean to distress you thus, dearest,” she said “but the announcement was made to me so abruptly; Sir Thomas--I do not wish to speak against him--but he is not a man of any delicacy of feeling.” “He!” interrupted Emily, “he has no more feeling than the most obdurate old paving-stone that ever refused to be macadamised.” “He has certainly not shown much consideration towards us in our sorrow,” returned the widow, “but I bear him no ill-will: he only exacts his legal rights, and I have no business to blame because nature has not gifted him with delicate perception. But I was going to tell you: Mr. Selby received a note from him this morning, saying--but here it is; Mr. Selby gave it to me to show you.” As she spoke, Mrs. Colville placed the note in her daughter’s-hands. It ran thus:-- “Dear Sir,--I have at length found a suitable person on whom to bestow the living of Ashburn. The new incumbent will read himself in on Sunday next. I presume, from the length of time which has elapsed since the late rector’s decease, that his family have quitted the parsonage. Should this not be the case, will you apprise Mrs. Colville of my desire that she should do so with as little loss of time as possible. The gentleman to whom I have given the preferment, holds most strongly the same views as myself, as to the necessity of guarding against the deterioration of Church property, and has, at my suggestion, written to Mrs. Colville’s solicitor, to announce his intention of claiming, to the utmost farthing, the sum due for dilapidations; which debt I depend upon you to see liquidated. You will oblige me by doing everything in your power to facilitate all arrangements the new rector may wish to make. I leave Ashburn early to-morrow for London; therefore shall be glad to see you this evening, when I can explain my intentions more fully. “I remain, dear sir, “Yours, &c., “Thomas Crawley, K.C.B.”