and of the
annoyance which she and her friends were causing him. "What do you
mean by rousing a whole household at this hour in the morning?" cried
Mr Wentworth, as he saw with vexation, Sarah, very startled and
sleepy, come stealing round by the kitchen door.

"You don't look as if you had wanted any rousing," said Elsworthy, who
was too much in earnest to own the Curate's authority. "She was seen
at your door the last thing last night, and you're in your clothes, as
bright as day, and a-waiting for us afore six o'clock in the morning.
Do you think as I've shut my eyes because it's my clergyman?" cried
the injured man, passionately. "I want my little girl--my little
Rosa--as is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. If Mr Wentworth
didn't know nothing about it, as he says," cried Elsworthy, with
sudden insight, "he has a feelin' heart, and he'd be grieved about the
child; but he aint grieved, nor concerned, nor nothing in the world
but angry; and will you tell me there aint nothing to be drawn from
that? But it's far from my intention to raise a talk," said the clerk,
drawing closer and touching the arm of the Perpetual Curate; "let her
come back, and if you're a man of your word, and behave honourable by
her, there shan't be nothing said in Carlingford. I'll stand up for
you, sir, against the world."

Mr Wentworth shook off his assailant's hand with a mingled sense of
exasperation and sympathy. "I tell you, upon my honour, I know nothing
about her," he said. "But it is true enough I have been thinking only
of myself," he continued, addressing the other. "How about the girl?
When was she lost? and can't you think of any place she can have gone
to? Elsworthy, hear reason," cried the Curate anxiously. "I assure
you, on my word, that I have never seen her since I closed this
garden-gate upon her last night."

"And I would ask you, sir, what had Rosa to do at your garden-gate?"
cried the clerk of St Roque's. "He aint denying it, Hayles; you can
see as he aint a-denying of it. What was it as she came here for but
you? Mr Wentworth, I've always had a great respect for you," said
Elsworthy. "I've respected you as my clergyman, sir, as well as for
other things; but you're a young man, and human nature is frail. I say
again as you needn't have no fear of me. I aint one as likes to make a
talk, and no more is Hayles. Give up the girl, and give me your
promise, and there aint a man living as will be the wiser; Mr
Wentworth--