nded if he knew what had become of the key of the church.

Instantly the cause of the excitement flashed upon Rod's mind. His
face became pale, and he glanced nervously around upon the men who had
gathered near.

"Do you hear me?" the parson again demanded. "Do you know anything
about that key?"

"Yes, grandad, I do," was the trembling reply.

"Where is it, then?"

"It's down Miss Arabella's neck."

"Down Miss Arabella's neck!" the clergyman repeated in profound
astonishment. "What do you mean?"

"She got hurt, grandad, and her nose was bleeding, so I dropped the key
down her neck. Captain Josh said that was the best thing to stop a
bleeding nose."

For an instant Parson Dan glared at the little lad before him. Then
his face softened, and as amused light shone in his eyes as the
humorous side of the situation dawned upon him. He longed to laugh
outright, and give the culprit before him a big hug. But he had to
control his feelings in the presence of all the people, who saw nothing
funny about the matter.

"Look here, Rodney," he said, "you go after that key as fast as your
legs will carry you."

"Yes, grandad, I will," and Rod was off like a shot, glad to be free
from the staring crowd.

So once more the wedding was delayed, and the murmurs of the waiting
people increased.

CHAPTER XI

MISS ARABELLA'S "AFFAIR"

It was the lot of Miss Arabella Simpkins to have lived for over forty
years without one real affair of the heart. There were reasons for
this, well known to all the people of Hillcrest. Not only had her
father, a lumberman of considerable repute in his day, been very
particular as to the young men who visited the house, but Miss Arabella
herself was the chief objection. She was by no means handsome, and in
addition she was possessed of a sharp tongue, and, as Captain Josh
truly said, "a long nose which was always prying into other people's
business." These frailties naturally increased as she grew older until
she became a dread not only to her brother, Tom, but to all her
neighbours, especially the children.

She had two redeeming features, however: a generous heart for those she
liked, and considerable money. This latter had its influence, and made
her tolerated in the company of others, where she was indulged with a
certain amount of good humour.

But a real romance had never come into Miss Arabella's life, and this
was her great trial. No suitor had ever sought her out