into the pie. The rectors, of course, must be paramount, and they might
be trusted: they had some experience, some sagacity, and Mr. Hall, at least, had
sympathy and loving-kindness for his fellow-men; but as for the youth under
them, they must be set aside, kept down, and taught that subordination and
silence best became their years and capacity.
    It was with some horror Miss Ainley heard this language: Caroline, however,
interposing with a mild word or two in praise of Mr. Sweeting, calmed her again.
Sweeting was, indeed, her own favourite: she endeavoured to respect Messrs
Malone and Donne; but the slices of spunge-cake, and glasses of cowslip or
primrose wine, she had at different times administered to Sweeting, when he came
to see her in her little cottage, were ever offered with sentiments of truly
motherly regard. The same innocuous collation she had once presented to Malone;
but that personage evinced such open scorn of the offering, she had never
ventured to renew it. To Donne she always served the treat, and was happy to see
his approbation of it proved beyond a doubt, by the fact of his usually eating
two pieces of cake, and putting a third in his pocket.
    Indefatigable in her exertions where good was to be done, Miss Ainley would
immediately have set out on a walk of ten miles round to the three rectors, in
order to show her plan, and humbly solicit their approval: but Miss Keeldar
interdicted this, and proposed as an amendment, to collect the clergy in a small
select reunion that evening at Fieldhead. Miss Ainley was to meet them, and the
plan was to be discussed in full privy council.
    Shirley managed to get the senior priesthood together accordingly; and
before the old maid's arrival she had, further, talked all the gentlemen into
the most charming mood imaginable. She herself had taken in hand Dr Boultby and
Mr. Helstone. The first was a stubborn old Welshman, hot, opinionated, and
obstinate, but withal a man who did a great deal of good, though not without
making some noise about it: the latter, we know. She had rather a friendly
feeling for both; especially for old Helstone; and it cost her no trouble to be
quite delightful to them. She took them round the garden; she gathered them
flowers; she was like a kind daughter to them. Mr. Hall she left to Caroline -
or rather, it was to Caroline's care Mr. Hall consigned himself.
    He generally sought Caroline