The curate was rather amazed at the peremptory tone of this speech, but hastened to assure his father that he was quite willing to go. The reason given for the journey seemed to him a sufficient one, and he had no suspicion that his father's real motive was to separate him from Bell. The bishop saw that this was the case, and forthwith came to the principal point of the interview. 'Do you know why I wish you to go abroad?' he asked sharply. 'To join my mother and Lucy--you told me so.' 'That is one reason, Gabriel; but there is another and more important one.' A remembrance of his secret engagement turned the curate's face crimson; but he faltered out that he did not understand what his father meant. 'I think you understand well enough,' said Dr Pendle, sternly. 'I allude to your disgraceful conduct in connection with that woman at The Derby Winner.' 'If you allude to my engagement to Miss Mosk, sir,' cried Gabriel, with spirit, 'there is no need to use the word disgraceful. My conduct towards that young lady has been honourable throughout.' 'And what about your conduct towards your father?' asked the bishop. Gabriel hung his head. 'I intended to tell you,' he stammered, 'when--' 'When you could summon up courage to do so,' interrupted Dr Pendle, in cutting tones. 'Unfortunately, your candour was not equal to your capability for deception, so I was obliged to learn the truth from a stranger.' 'Cargrim!' cried Gabriel, his instinct telling him the name of his betrayer. 'Yes, from Mr Cargrim. He heard the truth from the lips of this girl herself. She informed him that she was engaged to marry you--you, my son.' 'It is true!' said Gabriel, in a low voice. 'I wish to make her my wife.' 'Make her your wife!' cried Dr Pendle, angrily; 'this common girl--this--this barmaid--this--' 'I shall not listen to Bell being called names even by you, father,' said Gabriel, proudly. 'She is a good girl, a respectable girl--a beautiful girl!' 'And a barmaid,' said the bishop, dryly. 'I congratulate you on the daughter-in-law you have selected for your mother!' Gabriel winced. Much as he loved Bell, the idea of her being in the society of his delicate, refined mother was not a pleasant one. He could not conceal from himself that although the jewel he wished to pick out of the gutter might shine brilliantly there, it might not glitter so much when translated to a higher sphere and placed beside more polished gems. Therefore, he could find no answer to his father's speech, and wisely kept silence. 'Certainly, my sons are a comfort to me!' continued the bishop, sarcastically. 'I have brought them up in what I judged to be a wise and judicious manner, but it seems I am mistaken, since the first use they make of their training is to deceive the father who has never deceived them.' 'I admit that I have behaved badly, father.' 'No one can deny that, sir. The question is, do you intend to continue behaving badly?' 'I love Bell dearly--very dearly!'