said Miss Browning, 'I have heard that there were Hamleys of Hamley before the Romans.' The vicar was preparing a polite assent, when Mrs Goodenough came in with a still more startling assertion.'I have always heerd,' said she, with all the slow authority of an oldest inhabitant, 'that there was Hamleys of Hamley afore the time of the pagans.' Mr Ashton could only bow, and say, 'Possibly, very possibly, madam.' But he said it in so courteous a manner that Mrs Goodenough looked round in a gratified manner, as much as to say, 'The Church confirms my words; who now will dare dispute them?'
第19章 MR GIBSONS NEIGHBOURS (2)（3 / 3）