jokes with a view to frightening me out of Ballymoy, if he
thought my presence here was likely to interfere with any plan that his
friend Major Kent might have very much at heart?"

Miss King looked at the judge in some surprise. Then she suddenly
blushed again.

"Uncle Gilbert," she said, "you're too bad. I know what you're
thinking about. But why do you suppose that any of these men should
want to marry me?"

"You're a very attractive young woman, my dear," said the judge. "I
can quite understand-- What sort of a man is this Major Kent?"

"I won't talk about him," said Miss King. "It's not nice of you to
cross-question me in that way. I hate being treated as if I did
nothing but go about hunting for a husband; as if I never spoke to a
man without wondering in my own mind whether he'd be likely to marry
me. That's the way you always treat us, and I won't stand it. If
there are such women, and I don't think there are many, I'm not one of
them."

"No," said the judge; "you're not. If you had been you'd have been
married long ago. But in this case it seems that the possible husband
is hunting you with some vigour. He has certainly done his best to get
rid of me, regarding me, no doubt, as a possible obstacle in his way."

"I'm sure Major Kent had nothing to do with that. He's not at all the
kind of man who'd make plans and schemes. But the whole thing is
utterly absurd. What's the good of talking about it?"

"It is utterly absurd. It's the most absurd thing I ever heard of in
my life. I simply wouldn't have believed it possible if it hadn't
actually happened, that this red-haired parson--the man has a perfectly
diabolical imagination. I wonder what he'll do next. I feel certain
he won't give up. Could he possibly get at your cook, Milly?"

"I'm sure he couldn't. Hodge has the greatest contempt for all the
Irish. She regards them as savages, and is rather surprised to find
that they wear clothes."

"That's a comfort. I can face almost anything if I get my food
properly. But I must keep a careful look out. Meldon seems to me the
kind of man who wouldn't stick at a trifle, and he's evidently
determined to get rid of me."

"Perhaps he'll ask you out yachting and--"

"And maroon me on a desert island?"

"No, but make you-- Oh! I forgot, you don't get sea-sick."

"No. There's not a bit of use his trying to get the better of me in
that way. I should simply laugh at the worst ground sw