THE IMMORTAL NIGHTINGALE 237 



a recluse, a studious learned man, Doctor of Divinity, 

 and so on. 



Accordingly I went to the rectory, a charming 

 house standing in its own extensive grounds with 

 lawns, shrubbery, large garden and shade trees, and 

 a wood or grove of ancient oaks separating it from 

 the village. I found the rector digging in his garden 

 and could not help seeing that he was not too well 

 pleased at my request; but when I begged him not 

 to leave his task and promised to bring back the key, 

 if he would let me have it, he threw down his spade 

 and said that he must accompany me to the church 

 himself, as there were points about it which would 

 require to be explained. 



There were no monuments, and when we had 

 looked at the interior and he had pointed out the 

 most interesting features, he came out and sat down 

 in the porch. 



"Are you an archaeologist or what?" he said. 



I replied that I was nothing so important, that I 

 merely took an ordinary interest in old churches. I was 

 mainly interested in living things — a sort of naturalist. 



Then he got up and we walked back. "In birds?" 

 he asked presently. 



"Yes, especially in birds." 



"And what do you think about omens — do you 

 believe in them ? " 



The question made me curious, and I replied with 

 caution that I would tell him if he would first tell 

 me the particular case he had in his mind just then. 



He was silent; then when we had got back to the 



