"Let us go off along the road here somewhere, Hazel," said Archibald Graves abruptly, "I have come down on purpose to see you. Never mind these people; come along." What should she do? Miss Rebecca was staring--nay, glowering; the Burges were coming up, and this terrible interview, which she would have given worlds to avoid, was apparently inevitable: for, unlike some young ladies she did not feel disposed to faint. What then, should she do? The knot was untied, for just then there was a rustle of silk, and Miss Beatrice swept up over the chiselled slabs, to say, in a stern, uncompromising voice-- "Miss Thorne, my brother, the vicar, wishes to speak with you in the vestry." CHAPTER SIX. THE REVEREND HENRY LAMBENT. "I beg your pardon," said Archibald Graves, rather abruptly; "I spoke to Miss Thorne before church. I think she is engaged to me." The eyes of Beatrice Lambent opened with astonishment and she stared at this daring young man, who had the presumption to talk of interposing between the new schoolmistress and the head of the parish. She was evidently about to speak, for her lips moved, but no words came. It was Hazel who put an end to the unpleasant dilemma. "I will come at once. Miss Lambent, if you please," she said respectfully. "Miss Beatrice Lambent, if you please," said the lady haughtily; "Miss Lambent is now descending from the organ-loft." "I beg your pardon," exclaimed Hazel. Then, glancing with quiet dignity at the intruder and back to Miss Beatrice: "Mr Graves was a friend of our family a year or two back. Mr Graves, my mother is at the schoolhouse; if you wish to see me, I must ask you to call there." She followed Miss Beatrice up between the rows of pews that lady seeming to take her into moral custody; while, seeing himself the aim of several pairs of eyes, including those of Mr Chute, Mr William Forth Burge, Miss Burge, and above all, those of Miss Lambent, which literally flashed at him, Archibald Graves nodded shortly, turned upon his heel, and tried to march carelessly out of church; but his easy motions were terribly full of restraint. "I was not aware that Miss Thorne would be so soon having friends," said Miss Lambent; but her remark elicited no reply, for Mr William Forth Burge and his sister both felt troubled, the schoolmaster angry, and all too much preoccupied with the appearance of Hazel Thorne as she passed into the chancel, and through a bar of brilliant colour cast by the sun from the new stained-glass window, which had been placed in the south end of the chancel in memory of the late vicar, the effect being very strange, seeming to etherealise Hazel; though for the matter of that the same effect would have been seen, had it been noticed, in connection with Miss Beatrice, who had led the way, drawing aside the curtain that hung in front of the vestry door, and tapping softly with her knuckles. "Come in!"