The old man walked defiantly out of the vestry, and went toward his cottage, while Salis picked up the cigar stump and thrust it into his pocket. "How provoking!" he said. "Must be growing fearfully absent, and dropped it. I'm sure I did not smoke here when I came yesterday--no, it was the day before--to find out about that old baptismal entry. I must have walked in smoking, and thrown the end of the cigar down. Good gracious! If May had seen me--or anybody else. It is outrageous. I'm growing quite a slave to the habit, and forgetful of everything I do. Tut--tut--tut! How provoking! The old man is quite right. How can I reproach him again!" He walked gloomily back home, meeting Mrs Berens, and so absorbed in his thoughts that he passed without looking at her, making the fair widow flush and return hastily to her house, to be seized with a hysterical fit, which became so bad that North was summoned to administer sal volatile, and calm the suffering woman down, as she asked herself what had she done that dear Mr Salis should treat her so. Meanwhile Jonadab Moredock had reached his cottage, raised the big wooden latch, and passed in with a sudden bounce, but only to start, as he found himself confronted by Dally Watlock. "Ah, gran'fa!" cried the girl hastily, trying to conceal her confusion and something-else; "why, there you are!" "Yes," said the old man suspiciously; "here I am, and what do you want?" "Oh! only to say that you mustn't forget what you promised." "Oh! I shan't forget," said the old man. "But you arn't--you arn't been meddlin' with anything, have you?" and he looked inquisitively round. "Meddling; oh no, gran'fa, dear! I've only just come in, and I can't stop. But do help me. I should like some nice dresses, and you would like to see me there." "What, missus up at the Hall, my lass? Yes, and you shall be, too. There, give's a kiss. Be a good gel, and you shall have some money and fine clothes and feathers; and I'll get a strong lot o' chaps together as shall ring the bells for hours the day you're wed." "Oh, you dear old gran'fa. He shall marry me, shan't he?" "Ay, that he shall, my pretty. Well, if you must go, good-bye." "Yes, and he shall marry me, my fine madam," muttered Dally, as with flushed face and sparkling eyes she turned back to the Rectory. "Well, if it isn't Joe Chegg," she cried in a vexed tone, as she saw the young man coming, and turned through a gate into the river meadows, to avoid that rustic and get in by the back way. "You think you can be very clever," continued Dally; "but other people can be clever, too. Let's be sure this is the right one," she added, as she drew a big key out of her pocket.