Tithing and teasing – Jubilee of mysterious bell-ringing – ‘Get thee behind me, Satan’ – Tithe ghosts – Law at fault.

‘It is an ill wind that blows nobody good,’ said Miss Cockspur to her brother by way of consolation for the loss of his bride, but with more particular reference to herself; for she knew well that she only held her present comfortable seat by the chimney-corner of the Parsonage parlour upon the uncertain tenure of the Rector’s bachelorship. ‘It is an ill wind, I say, brother Doctor, that blows nobody good; and you may think it right well that you have escaped such a cross-grained baggage, ⁸⁶ who would have worried your life out of you with her tantrums. I always said so, and you see the end on’t.’