"Hallo, moother," said Joe Banks, entering the room, "can't you let that rest?" "No, Joe, and I never shall," exclaimed Mrs Banks. "Don't you tak' any notice, sir," said Joe. "She heven't talked you round, hev she?" "No, Mr Banks," said the vicar, quietly; "it was not necessary. I have no right to interfere in these matters, but--" "Well, speak out, sir; speak out," said Joe, rather sternly. "Say out like a man what you mean." "If I did, Mr Banks, I should say that you were imprudent to let this matter proceed." "Why?" "Because it is a well-known fact that Mr Glaire is engaged to his cousin." "There, Joe; there, Joe; what did I tell thee?" cried Mrs Banks, triumphantly; while Daisy, who could hear nearly all that was said, crouched with burning face in her room, shivering with nervous excitement, though longing to hear more. "All raight, parson, I know," said Joe; "I see. The missus has sent you." "Indeed, no, Banks," said the vicar. "I speak as a friend, without a word from anybody." "Then, what do you mean by it?" cried Joe, exploding with passion. "What raight have you to come interferin' in a man's house, and about his wife and daughter? This is my own bit o' freehold, Mr Selwood, and if you can't pay respect to me and to mine, and see that if Master Richard Glaire, my old fellow-workman's boy, chooses to marry my gal, he's a raight to, why I'd thank you to stay away." "Don't be angry with me, Mr Banks," said the vicar, laying his hand upon the other's arm; "I indeed wish you and yours well." "Then keep to wishing," said Joe sharply. "I'm not an owd fool yet. Think I don't know? Here's the Missus, and Missus Glaire, and Tom Podmore, all been at you; and `All raight, leave it to me,' says you. `I'll put it all raight.' And now you've had your try, and you can't put it raight. I'll marry my gal to anybody I like and she likes, in spite of all the parsons in Lincolnshire." "Don't you tak' any notice of what he says, sir, please," cried Mrs Banks. "He's put out, and when he is, and it's about something that he knows he's wrong over--" "No, he isn't," roared Joe. "He says anything, sir," continued Mrs Banks. "No, he don't," roared Joe. "He's a saying raight, and what he says is, that he won't be interfered wi' by anyone. He's got trouble enew ower the strike, and he won't hev trouble ower this; so perhaps Mr Selwood 'll stop away from my place till he's asked to come again." "Joe, you ought to be ashamed of yoursen," cried Mrs Banks. "He'll come and beg your pardon for this, sir, or I'll know the reason why." "No, he wean't," roared Joe. "So now go; and if you hadn't been such a straightforward chap ower the row again Master Richard, I'd hev said twice as much to you." "Yes, I'll go," said the vicar quietly. "Good day, Mrs Banks. Good day, Banks; you'll find I'm less disposed to meddle than you think, and give me credit for this some day. Come, you'll shake hands." "Dal me if I will," cried Joe.