him if he's got right on his side? He does not wish to do
any harm to Mr. Tappitt."

"I don't know about that, my dear; but at any rate they've
quarrelled."

"But why shouldn't that be Mr. Tappitt's fault as much as his? And as
for not showing his face in Baslehurst--! Oh, mamma! don't you know
him well enough to be sure that he will never be ashamed of showing
his face anywhere? He not show his face! Mamma, I don't believe a
word of it all,--not a word."

"Mr. Comfort said so; he did indeed." Then Mrs. Sturt's words came
back upon Rachel. "Don't let ere a parson in Devonshire rob thee of
thy sweetheart." This lover of hers was her only possession,--the
only thing of her own winning that she had ever valued. He was her
great triumph, the rich upshot of her own prowess,--and now she felt
that this parson was indeed robbing her. Had he been then present,
she would have risen up and spoken at him, as she had never spoken
before. The spirit of rebellion against all the world was strong
within her;--against all the world except that one weak woman who now
sat before her on the sofa. Her eyes were full of anger, and Mrs. Ray
saw that it was so; but still she was minded to obey her mother.

"It's no good talking," said Rachel; "but when they say that he's
afraid to show himself in Baslehurst, I don't believe them. Does he
look like a man afraid to show himself?"

"Looks are so deceitful, Rachel."

"And as for debts,--people, if they're called away by telegraph in a
minute, can't pay all that they owe. There are plenty of people in
Baslehurst that owe a deal more than he does, I'm sure. And he's got
his share in the brewery, so that nobody need be afraid."

"Mr. Comfort didn't say that you were to quarrel with him
altogether."

"Mr. Comfort! What's Mr. Comfort to me, mamma?" This was said in such
a tone that Mrs. Ray absolutely started up from her seat.

"But, Rachel, he is my oldest friend. He was your father's friend."

"Why did he not say it before, then? Why--why--why--? Mamma, I can't
throw him off now. Didn't I tell him that,--that,--that I would--love
him? Didn't you say that it might be so,--you yourself? How am I to
show my face, if I go back now? Mamma, I do love him, with all my
heart and all my strength, and nothing that anybody can say can make
any difference. If he owed ever so much money I should love him the
same. If he had killed Mr. Tappitt it wouldn't make any difference."

"Oh, Rachel!"

"No