Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/226

220 "Nay, father, it has turned out very well!" cried she; "for I have carried off Mr. Tregenna from those that would have harmed him, and have thereby made him vastly civil!"

"Nay, sir, Miss Joan will not suffer my civility or my gratitude. She, who is so proud herself, will not allow me to acquit my own debt to her even by a word of thanks."

"Tut-tut, there is no need!" said the parson.

"And the less, sir," put in Joan, quickly, "since I own I had some hand in bringing about your discomfiture before, at the hands of the—h'm—'free-traders.' Father," she went on quickly, turning to the vicar, "I'll never do aught for Ann or her friends again! 'Twas she put them on our track; and they had a mind to murder Mr. Tregenna, I verily believe!"

She was speaking very quickly, with a certain frivolous air which was new in her, and less becoming than her usual straightforward simplicity. Tregenna, who was too inexperienced in the ways of women to understand the cause of this change in her, was hurt and grieved by it. He could not understand how strong her anxiety must be to try to efface from his mind