Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/50

44 been made, taller than the more ancient portion, and crowned by a gabled roof of red tiles.

Over the whole house there hung a rich mantle of glossy dark ivy, which had grown into a massive tree over the more ancient part, and stretched its twining branches as far as the higher roof of the newer portion, leaving little to be seen of the structure but the windows, the knotted panes of which glistened like huge dewdrops in the setting sun.

Tregenna drew himself up. He took it for granted she did not intend him to use the Parsonage as a watch-tower, to descry the course the smugglers had taken.

"You are afraid, I suppose," said he sharply, "that I might find out the direction in which lie the haunts of 'free-trade?'"

Joan drew herself up in her turn. "Nay, sir," said she quietly, "those haunts are reached by now, I doubt not; and your friends the soldiers will ere long be returning."

"May be with a few of your friends, the free-traders, at their saddle-bow, madam," retorted the lieutenant hotly.

"Sir, you are insulting," said Joan.