The Revs. Chard, Froude and Michell 119 



some of the stories that he had heard. The reply received 

 was to the effect that he saw no reason why he should do any- 

 thing of the kind, and, as far as I could gather, he gave the 

 Bishop to understand he had no intention of appearing. As 

 the molehill would not go to the mountain the mountain 

 decided to go to the molehill. His lordship was distinctly 

 ruffled, and, regardless of the expense, hired what in those days 

 was, I believe, called a " post-chaise," and in this was ambled 

 over to Knowstone vicarage. 



A little bird must, I think, have arrived in advance of the 

 prelate, for when he was shown into what I believe was termed 

 the " parlour," he was kept waiting for some time. This did 

 not improve the Bishop's state of mind, and I feel sure he 

 must have been rehearsing to himself some of those very telling 

 reprimands, which at the time seem so conclusive and from 

 which we depart entirely, saying something quite different when 

 the actual moment arrives. His patience and dignity were 

 strained to breaking-point when, while striding up and 

 down the room, the door suddenly opened and a female re- 

 quested him to " walk this way, please." Complying with this 

 request, he found himself in the presence of Mr. Froude, rolled 

 up in blankets, with a shawl over his head, sitting close into the 

 hre, apparently hardly able to speak in consequence of a violent 

 cold in his head and chest. Under ordinary circumstances no 

 doubt the Bishop would have made polite enquiries into the 

 state of the vicar's health, but nothing was further from his 

 mind on this occasion, and he at once opened the conversation 

 by plunging into the reason of his visit, saying pompously : 



" Good-day, Mr. Froude. I have come to ask if certain stories 

 are true that — —'" 



Mr. Froude. — " Oh yes, yes, my lord, I quite agree with 

 you, very cold, yes, very cold travelling ; do 'ee sit down now and 

 have some nice hot brandy and water. There is nothing like it 

 for keeping off the shivers ! " 



Bishop {indignantly). — " No, thank you, I never partake of 

 anything between meals ! " 



Mr. Froude's cold was evidently so bad it had made him 

 deaf, for he rang the bell, and when it was answered by his 

 housekeeper Mary, requested her to bring hot brandy and water 

 for the Bishop, adding, " And, Mary, he likes it strong ! " 



