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ong,—breakingoffafterafewbarswithacoughofremembranceandapology.WhenthishappenedFritzingandPriscillalookedateachotherwithgraveandmeditativeeyestheyknewhowcompletelytheywereinherpower. FritzingwrotethatnighttothefriendinLondonwhohadengagedtheroomsforhimatBaker'sFarm,andaskedhimtolendhimfiftypoundsforaweek,—preferablythreehundred(thiswouldcoverthefurnisher'sbill),butifhecouldlendneitherfivewoulddo.Thefriend,ateacherofGerman,couldaseasilyhavelentthethreehundredasthefive,sopoorwashe,sofitanobjectforaloanhimselfbutlongbeforehisletterexplainingthisinwordseloquentofregret(forhewasaloyalfriend)reachedFritzing,manythingshadhappenedtothatbewilderedmantowhomsomanythingshadhappenedalready,andcausedhimtoforgetbothhisfriendandhisrequest. This,then,washowtheafternoonandeveningofThursdaywerepassedandonFridaymorning,quiteunstrungbytheirsleeplessnight,PriscillaandFritzingwereproposingtogouptogetherontothemoor,theretoseekwidthandfreshness,beblownuponbymoistwinds,andforgetforalittlethecrushingnarrownessandperplexitiesofCreeperCottage,whenMrs.Morrisonwalkedin.Sheopenedthedoorfirstandthen,whenhalfofherwasinside,knockedwithherknuckles,whichweretheonlythingstoknockwithonPriscilla'ssimpledoor. Priscillawasstandingbythefiredressedtogoout,waitingforFritzing,andshestaredatthisapparitioningreatandunconcealedsurprise.Whatbusiness,saidPriscilla'slookmoreplainlythananywords,whatbusinesshadpeopletowalkintootherpeople'scottagesinsuchamanner?Shestoodquitestill,andscrutinizedMrs.MorrisonwiththequestioningexpressionsheusedtofindsoeffectiveinKunitzdayswhenconfrontedbyapersoninclinedtoforgetwhich,exactly,washisproperplace.ButMrs.MorrisonknewnothingofKunitz,andthelooklosthalfitspotencywithoutitsimpressivebackground.Besides,theladywasnotonetonoticethingssoslightaslookstokeepherinherproperplaceyouwouldhaveneededsledge-hammers.Shecameinwithoutthinkingitnecessarytowaittobeaskedto,noddedsomethingthatmightperhapshaverepresentedagreetingandofwhichPriscillatooknonotice,andherfacewasthefaceofsomebodywhoisangry. "Howwearingforthevicar,"thoughtPriscilla,"tohaveawifewhoisangryatteno'clockinthemorning." "I'vecomeintheinterests—"beganMrs.Morrison,whosevoicewasquiteasangryasherface. "I'mjustgoingout,"saidPriscilla. "—Ofreligionandmorality." "Aretheydistinct?"askedPriscilla,drawingonhergloves. "YoucanimaginethatnothingwouldmakemepayyouavisitbutthestrongestsenseofthedutyIowetomypositionintheparish." "WhyshouldIimagineit?" "OfcourseIexpectimpertinence." "I'mafraidyou'vecomeheretoberude." "Ishallnotbedauntedbyanythingyoumaysayfromdoingmyduty." "Willyoupleasedoit,then,andgetitover?" "Thedutiesofaclergyman'swifeareoftenverydisagreeable." "Probablyyou'vegotholdofaperfectlywrongideaofwhatyoursreallyare." "Itisanewexperienceformetobetoldsobyagirlofyourage." "Iamnottellingyou.Ionlysuggest." "Iwaspreparedforrudeness." "Thenwhydidyoucome?" "Howlongareyougoingtostayinthisparish?" "Youdon'texpectmetoanswerthat?" "You'venotbeeninitafortnight,andyouhavedonemoreharmthanmostpeopleinalifetime." "I'mafraidyouexaggerate." "Youhavetaughtittodrink."