"She has told you something of me, and you have believed her?" repeated Mr Maguire. "Have I not a right to ask you what she has said?" "You have no right to ask me anything." "Have I not, Miss Mackenzie? Surely that is hard. Is it not hard that I should be stabbed in the dark, and have no means of redressing myself? I did not expect such an answer from you;--indeed I did not." "And is not it hard that I should be troubled in this way? You talk of stabbing. Who has stabbed you? Is it not your own particular friend, whom you described to me as the best person in all the world? If you and she fall out why should I be brought into it? Once for all, Mr Maguire, I won't be brought into it." Now he sat down and again paused before he went on with his talk. "Miss Mackenzie," he said, when he did speak. "I had not intended to be so abrupt as I fear you will think me in that which I am about to say; but I believe you will like plain measures best." "Certainly I shall, Mr Maguire." "They are the best, always. If, then, I am plain with you, will you be plain with me also? I think you must guess what it is I have to say to you." "I hate guessing anything, Mr Maguire." "Very well; then I will be plain. We have now known each other for nearly a year, Miss Mackenzie." "A year, is it? No, not a year. This is the beginning of June, and I did not come here till the end of last August. It's about nine months, Mr Maguire." "Very well; nine months. Nine months may be as nothing in an acquaintance, or it may lead to the closest friendship." "I don't know that we have met so very often. You have the parish to attend to, Mr Maguire." "Of course I have--or rather I had, for I have left Mr Stumfold." "Left Mr Stumfold! Why, I heard you preach yesterday." "I did preach yesterday, and shall till he has got another assistant. But he and I are parted as regards all friendly connection." "But isn't that a pity?" "Miss Mackenzie, I don't mind telling you that I have found it impossible to put up with the impertinence of that woman"--and now, as he spoke, there came a distorted fire out of his imperfect eye--"impossible! If you knew what I have gone through in attempting it! But that's over. I have the greatest respect for him in the world; a very thorough esteem. He is a hard-working man, and though I do not always approve the style of his wit,--of which, by-the-bye, he thinks too much himself,--still I acknowledge him to be a good spiritual pastor. But he has been unfortunate in his marriage. No doubt he has got money, but money is not everything." "Indeed, it is not, Mr Maguire." "How he can live in the same house with that Mr Peters, I can never understand. The quarrels between him and his daughter are so incessant that poor Mr Stumfold is unable to conceal them from the public." "But you have spoken so highly of her."