Doctor and Mrs. Jackson \ 4 1 



the Vicar. " Who makes a kitchen-midden of 

 the church tower ? " 



" That there belongs to Dr. and Mrs. Jackson," 

 said poor Harding. 



"Then Dr. and Mrs. Jackson had better come 

 and fetch it away at once ! " cried the Vicar, 

 forgetting in his indignation to ask who they 

 were. " See about it directly, please : it is your 

 duty as churchwarden, and if your duties have 

 so far been neglected, you cannot do better than 

 begin to make up for the past. I do not mean to 

 speak harshly," he added, seeing Mr. Harding's 

 grave face grow graver, " but the state of this 

 tower is dreadful, and we must see to it at 

 once." 



Mr. Harding said nothing, but made for the 

 staircase, disappeared from view, and went home 

 very sad at heart. " I doubt the old Doctor 

 and his missus will have to go," said he. Mrs. 

 Harding let her work drop to the floor and stared 

 at him. "Then the old gentleman '11 have to 

 go too," she said. And there was consternation 

 among all the old folks that evening. 



Next day I happened to be sitting with the 



