"And he _will_ invite such a lot of people to meals," she went on; "and there isn't always enough for them. And then of course _he_ goes without." "I expect you do too, if there isn't enough," said Caroline, smiling at her. "Oh, I'm as strong as a horse," she said. "But we haven't got much money, you know, and housekeeping _is_ rather difficult sometimes." The Bishop's wife sailed over to them. "Are you persuading her to make her husband come to Abington?" she asked. "She _ought_ to. He can't stand _that_ life much longer." Caroline looked up at her in some confusion. "Oh, I know nothing was to be said about it till after you had seen whether you liked them or not," she said. "But of course you like them. I do myself, though I should like to smack them both and send them to bed." "We want a Vicar at Abington," said Caroline. "Father is the patron of the living. Do persuade your husband to come there." Viola's eyes filled with tears, and she took Caroline's hand. "Oh, my dear, it's just what I should love for him," she said. "He'll get enough to eat, and time to rest sometimes." So when the men came up they found it all settled for them. CHAPTER IX THE NEW VICAR The Prescotts came over to the Abbey on the next afternoon. They were to stay there for two nights, and everything was to be settled for Prescott's induction to the living at an early date. Both of them were in the highest spirits. "What a lark it all is!" said the Vicar-elect of Abington, grinning all over his face as Caroline met them at the door. His wife was as excited and happy as he was, but when Caroline took her up to her room, she took hold of both her hands, and the tears came into her eyes, as she said: "Oh, my dear, if you only knew what all this means to us! This lovely, peaceful country, after the crowds and the dirt! It's the dirt I hate so much. You can't get away from that. Gerry hates it too, though he won't admit it." Grafton had arranged that they should inspect the Vicarage immediately upon their arrival. The Vicar had expressed some surprise at the suddenness with which everything had been arranged. He let it be understood that it would have been more in keeping with the respect due to his holy office if he had been consulted about the new appointment. But at this time he was more careful than usual to escape all suspicion of dispute, having his eye fixed upon the illuminated address and the silver, or at least heavily-plated, salver or tea-service of the presentation, of which, however, he had as yet gained no hint, although the time for his departure was getting close. The four of them walked up to the Vicarage together, after a preliminary inspection of the church, with which Prescott expressed himself delighted. "Ours is a horrid gloomy thing," he said, "and you can't always feel you are getting quite away in it. This is just right. I like it's being here, right away from the village."