"'An elderly clergyman who has filled the office of curate for a very long time in one parish, finding it now necessary to make a change, desires to find a similar----'"
"Do you think that will do?" said Mab. "It is as if poor papa were a butler, or something--'filled the office of curate for a long time in one parish'--it does not sound nice."
"We must not be bound by what sounds nice," said Cicely. "It is not nice, in fact--is it? How hard it is to put even such a little thing as this as one ought! Will this do better?--'A clergyman, who has long occupied the position of curate in charge, in a small parish, wishes to hear of a similar----' What, Mab? I cannot say situation, can I? that is like a butler again. Oh, dear, dear; it is so very much like a butler altogether. Tell me a word."
"But I have just said position. 'A clergyman who has long held the--an _appointment_ as curate in charge'--there, that is better--'wishes to hear of a similar position in a small parish.' I think that will do."
"Isn't there a Latin word? _Locum_ something or other; would not that be more dignified?" said Mab.
"_Locum tenens_. I prefer English," said Cicely; "and now I suppose we must say something about his opinions. Poor dear papa! I am sure I do not know whether he is High, or Low, or Broad."
"Not Broad," said Mab, pointedly; for she was very orthodox. "Say sound; I have often seen that, and it does not commit you to anything,--sound, but not extreme, like Miss Blandy's clergyman."
"'Of sound, but not extreme principles,'" wrote Cicely. "That sounds a little strange, for you might say that a man who could not tell a lie, but yet did not mind a fib, was sound, but not extreme. 'Church principles'--is that better? But I don't like that either. Stop, I have it--'He is a sound, but not extreme Churchman'--that is the very thing--'and has much experience' (Ah, poor papa!) 'in managing a parish. Apply'--but that is another question. Where ought they to apply? We cannot give, I suppose, the full name and address here?"
"I wonder if any one will apply? But, Cicely, suppose all comes right, as I am sure it will, you may be deceiving some one, making them think--Here is the very person I want; and then how disappointed they will be!"