THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL. 205 



" Mr. Sleeman again," responded the bishop, 

 "if by that time you have not secured another 

 curate." 



" I shall take no steps to do so, my lord ; 

 and, moreover, shall be very cautious as to 

 whom I admit into my church," replied Russell, 

 significantly. 



It may be added that, immediately on hearing 

 the result of that conference, the parishioners 

 of Landkey sent up their churchwarden with 

 a "Round Robin" in Sleeman's favour; and 

 from that day he remained the curate of Landkey 

 till he married and removed to Whitchurch, a 

 family living near Tavistock, to which he 

 succeeded on the death of his father. 



"But, my lord," continued Russell, "there 

 are many other clergymen in your diocese who 

 keep hounds " — here a groan from the bishop — 

 " why am I singled out among so many ? " 



"Name them," said the bishop impatiently. 



"That I decline doing," replied Russell, firmly. 

 Whereupon the whole party, to their great relief, 

 were dismissed from the episcopal presence. 



Mr. Ralph Barnes, however, overtaking Russell 

 at the palace gate, stopped him by saying, 

 " You told the bishop there were other clergymen 

 in the diocese who keep hounds ; you are bound 

 to name them, sir." 



"Well," said Russell, "as I believe that one 

 of them, at least, would not object to my doing 



