Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/68

62 help admiring her spirit. He answered more mildly than he would have done had her defiant speech been uttered by another mouth—

"Nay, madam, you will not suffer us to protect you from the wrong-doers and their works; you side with them, against us and the law!"

"Who is that talks of the law?" cried a cheery voice from the narrow hall behind Joan.

And Parson Langney, in a very genial mood, having but just returned from Hurst Court and the merrymakers there, presented himself at the doorway where his daughter made way for him.

"You have a smuggler here, sir, whom I beg you to give up to justice," said Tregenna. "I can prove that he hath taken a foremost part in a raid and a fight with my men; and sure Miss Joan may rest satisfied with what you have done for him, and let justice take its course now."

The parson glanced at his daughter with a change of countenance—

"Well," said he, "the soldiers are at Hurst Court; bring them hither, and make a search of my house, if you please. You will find but