't be silly, Dick! You know very well I didn't."

Dick shook his head sceptically, and smiled.

"Dick, I always believe flattery if possible--and it was possible then.
Now there's an open confession of weakness. But I showed no
consciousness of it."

Dick, perceiving by her look that she would adhere to her statement,
charitably forbore saying anything that could make her prevaricate. The
sight of Shiner, too, had recalled another branch of the subject to his
mind; that which had been his greatest trouble till her company and words
had obscured its probability.

"By the way, Fancy, do you know why our quire is to be dismissed?"

"No: except that it is Mr. Maybold's wish for me to play the organ."

"Do you know how it came to be his wish?"

"That I don't."

"Mr. Shiner, being churchwarden, has persuaded the vicar; who, however,
was willing enough before. Shiner, I know, is crazy to see you playing
every Sunday; I suppose he'll turn over your music, for the organ will be
close to his pew. But--I know you have never encouraged him?"

"Never once!" said Fancy emphatically, and with eyes full of earnest
truth. "I don't like him indeed, and I never heard of his doing this
before! I have always felt that I should like to play in a church, but I
never wished to turn you and your choir out; and I never even said that I
could play till I was asked. You don't think for a moment that I did,
surely, do you?"

"I know you didn't, dear."

"Or that I care the least morsel of a bit for him?"

"I know you don't."

The distance between Budmouth and Mellstock was ten or eleven miles, and
there being a good inn, 'The Ship,' four miles out of Budmouth, with a
mast and cross-trees in front, Dick's custom in driving thither was to
divide the journey into three stages by resting at this inn going and
coming, and not troubling the Budmouth stables at all, whenever his visit
to the town was a mere call and deposit, as to-day.

Fancy was ushered into a little tea-room, and Dick went to the stables to
see to the feeding of Smart. In face of the significant twitches of
feature that were visible in the ostler and labouring men idling around,
Dick endeavoured to look unconscious of the fact that there was any
sentiment between him and Fancy beyond a tranter's desire to carry a
passenger home. He presently entered the inn and opened the door of
Fancy's room.

"Dick, do you know, it has struck me that it is rather awkward, my