Read "The Perpetual Curate" by Margaret Oliphant online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Miss Dora Wentworth relapsed into suppressed sobbing when the three ladies were once more on their way. Between each little access a few broken words fell from the poor lady's lips. "I am sure dear Frank did not mean it," she said; it was all the plea his champion could find for him.
"He did not mean what? to do his duty and save souls? " said Miss Leonora -- "is that what he didn't mean? It looks very much as if he did, though -- as well as he knew how. "