THE VICARAGE. 283 



had partly concealed her face, she asked her 

 father, somewhat triumphantly, whether she had 

 not shewn considerable expertness. He looked 

 at her with that love and admiration with which a 

 father always regards an affectionate and lovely 

 daughter, and after bestowing upon her his com- 

 mendation, resumed his employment. A suffi- 

 cient quantity of trout was soon caught, and as 

 they proceeded homewards they congratulated 

 each other on the addition that had been made to 

 their repast. It was a little epoch at the vicarage, 

 for Lucy's brother was to be accompanied by one 

 of his college friends. " I am curious/' said Lucy, 

 " to know what sort of a person Henry's friend, 

 Mr. Davenport, is ; and if he is agreeable, clever, 

 and handsome. Henry has said very little about 

 him in his letters, except to tell us that they are 

 almost inseparable companions." 



"They are not likely to be .so much longer," 

 replied the Vicar ; " for Mr. Davenport is to be 

 ordained very soon, and presented by his family to 

 a living of considerable value. I cannot tell you 

 whether he is handsome or agreeable, but he is 

 probably clever, or at least something of a poet, h 

 we may judge by those few lines your brother sent 

 us, written by his friend on seeing a mother en- 

 gaged in teaching her children, and which may be 

 applied so well to your own excellent mother. I 

 will repeat them : 



