Page:Under the greenwood tree (1872 Volume 1).pdf/175

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INTERVIEW WITH THE VICAR.
161

clearly audible from the vicarage garden. At the opening of the gate there was another short interval of irregular shuffling, caused by a rather peculiar habit the gate had, when swung open quickly, of striking against the bank and slamming back into the opener's face.

'Now keep step again, will ye?' said the tranter solemnly. 'It looks better, and more becomes the high class of errand which has brought us here.' Thus they advanced to the door.

At Reuben's ring the more modest of the group turned aside, adjusted their hats, and looked critically at any shrub that happened to lie in the line of vision; endeavouring thus to give any one who chanced to look out the windows the impression that their request, whatever it was going to be, was rather a casual thought occurring whilst they were inspecting the vicar's

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