Emilius, having respect to his cloth, had sent the poor lady
back to Bohemia. The consequence was that he now lived in a solitude which
was absolute and, as Mr. Emilius added, somewhat melancholy. All this Mr.
Emilius explained very fully, not to Lizzie herself, but to Mrs.
Carbuncle. If Lady Eustace chose to entertain such a suitor, why should he
not come? It was nothing to Mrs. Carbuncle.
Lizzie laughed when she was told that she might add the reverend gentleman
to the list of her admirers.
"Don't you remember," she said, "how we used to chaff Miss Macnulty about
him?"
"I knew better than that," replied Mrs. Carbuncle.
"There is no saying what a man may be after," said Lizzie. "I didn't know
but what he might have thought that Macnulty's connection would increase
his congregation."
"He's after you, my dear, and your income. He can manage a congregation
for himself."
Lizzie was very civil to him, but it would be unjust to her to say that
she gave him any encouragement. It is quite the proper thing for a lady to
be on intimate, and even on affectionate, terms with her favourite
clergyman, and Lizzie certainly had intercourse with no clergyman who was
a greater favourite with her than Mr.
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