"If the owners had lived on the spot before, it would have been better for their mines. Managers are not infallible. Besides, I want to know the people. I am going to start a small institute or club for the young men and boys. I am full of ideas from which I want practical results." "And what about the house?" asked Mrs. Wharnecliffe. "Just for the present, we'll leave it. As I said before, I have the first refusal of it. But I'm thankful for your suggestions and advice." He returned to the inn with them and they had lunch together. They had hardly finished the meal before Thorold's friend, the Rector of the parish, and his daughter appeared. Mr. Muir was a tall, stalwart man, with a cheerful face and breezy manner. He was very disappointed to hear that Mrs. Wharnecliffe was returning home immediately. "We quite hoped you would dine with us to-night, or at least, come up and have a 'dish o' tay,' as our Cornish folk say. Do you approve of this Cornish benefactor?" He laid his hand on Thorold's shoulder as he spoke. "It's a doubtful experiment," said Mrs. Wharnecliffe gravely; "but Thorold knows his own business best, and if his heart is in it, I can but wish him good luck. I hope he will succeed where others have failed." "It's going to be a huge success," said Frances enthusiastically. "Mr. Holt always succeeds in everything he puts his hand to, now does he not?" Mrs. Wharnecliffe smiled. "He gets his own way with people as a rule." Thorold looked across at Gentian with his humorous smile. "Do you endorse that?" he asked. She nodded. "Yes, because you are so doggedly determined and persevering," she said. "Well," said Frances, "we all want him to have his own way down here. There's no opposition from anyone. How could there be? We are most keenly interested in what he is doing. And as for the people round, they're wild with delight that the mines are going to be restarted." "The only thing that I don't like about them," said Gentian, "is the mess they make of the country. They spoil the landscape, and foul the air with blacks and dust." Frances' smile had a twinge of pity in it. "That is rather a narrow outlook," she said; "when you put against a few acres of waste ground the employment and prosperity of hundreds of living souls." Gentian was silent. She was glad when the car was announced, but vexed that she and Mrs. Wharnecliffe should drive off leaving Thorold by the side of the girl to whom she had taken such a hearty dislike. CHAPTER XIII A NEW FRIEND IT was not long after Gentian's return to the Miss Buchans that the blow fell upon her about St. Anselm's Vicarage. Thorold wrote to her himself about it, and Mrs. Wharnecliffe had her over for the day to discuss plans. To her astonishment, Gentian took it very quietly.