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Updated: May 23, 2025
Dr Pottinger, when on that afternoon he instructed his wife to call on Miss Mackenzie as soon as that young lady should be settled, explained that the stranger was very much in the dark as to the ways and manners of Littlebath. "What! go to the assembly rooms, and sit under Mr Stumfold!" said Mrs Pottinger. "She never can do both, you know."
"Mr Stumfold is very good; and as for Mrs Stumfold, I look upon her as a very wonderful woman, quite a wonderful woman.
Have you known Mr Stumfold long? Perhaps you have come here to be near him; a great many ladies do." In answer to this, Miss Mackenzie explained that she was not a follower of Mr Stumfold in that sense. It was true that she had brought a letter to him, and intended to go to his church. In consequence of that letter, Mrs Stumfold had been good enough to call upon her.
All the ladies in the room were in a fever of expectation, and Mr Stumfold asked the riddle again. "He won't tell them till we meet again; but there isn't one here who won't study the life of St Peter during the next week. And what they'll learn in that way they'll never forget." "But why was he like a little boy with his shoes off?" asked Miss Mackenzie. "Ah! that's Stumfold's riddle.
I've no doubt Stumfold will be all right when the old fellow dies. Such men as Stumfold don't often make mistakes about their money. But as long as old Peters lasts I shouldn't think it can be quite serene. They say that she is always cutting up rough with the old man." "She seemed to me to behave very well to him," said Miss Mackenzie, remembering the carriage of the tea-cup.
"No; I don't play cards," said Miss Mackenzie. "Many ladies do, but I'm not in that set." "What set are you in?" said Sir John. "I don't think I am in any set. I know Mr Stumfold, the clergyman there, and I go to his house sometimes." "Oh, ah; I see," said Sir John. "I beg your pardon for mentioning cards. I shouldn't have done it, if I had known that you were one of Mr Stumfold's people."
"Well, I'll tell you. As you have done me this honour, I think that I am now bound to tell you what Mrs Stumfold said to me. She had no right to connect my name with yours or with that of any other gentleman, and my quarrel with her is about that. As to what she said about you, that is your affair and not mine."
"Dearest Miss Mackenzie," he had said, with charitable zeal, "if there has been anything wrong, just beg her pardon, and you will find that everything has been forgotten at once; a more forgiving woman than Mrs Stumfold never lived." "But suppose I have done nothing to be forgiven," urged Miss Mackenzie.
The time hasn't been lost, as Mr Maguire has treated us to a theological argument of great weight." Then all the company laughed, and Miss Mackenzie perceived that Mr Stumfold could joke in his way. She was introduced to Mr Maguire, who also pressed her hand; and then Miss Baker came and sat by her side. There was, however, at that moment no time for conversation.
She had heard no ring at the bell, and having settled herself with a novel in the arm-chair, had almost ceased for the moment to think of Mr Maguire or of Mrs Stumfold. There was something so sudden in the request now made to her, that it took away her breath. "Mr Maguire, Miss, the clergyman from Mr Stumfold's church," said the girl again.
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