"Well, ma'am," said the foreman, thoughtfully, "I'm not so sure about that." He was about to say more when Mrs Glaire stopped him. "Another time, Banks, another time," she said, hastily. "Here is my son." As she spoke Richard Glaire came into the garden with his hands in his pockets, and Eve Pelly clinging to one arm, looking bright and happy. The foreman started slightly, but gave himself a jerk and smiled, and then, in obedience to a gesture from his mistress, he left the garden and returned to the foundry. Volume 1, Chapter V. THE VICAR'S STROLL. The brick, as the vicar called it, was only another piece of slag; but he did not turn his head, only smiled, and began thinking that Dumford quite equalled the report he had heard of it. Then looking round the plain old church, peering inside through the windows, and satisfying himself that its architectural beauties were not of a very striking nature, he turned aside and entered the vicarage garden, giving a sigh of satisfaction on finding that his home was a comfortable red-brick, gable-ended house, whose exterior, with its garden overrun with weeds, promised well in its traces of former cultivation. A ring at a bell by the side post of the door brought forth a wan, washed-out looking woman, who looked at the visitor from top to toe, ending by saying sharply, in a vinegary tone of voice: "What d'yer want?" "To come in," said the vicar, smiling. "Are you in charge of the house?" "If yow want to go over t'church yow must go to Jacky Budd's down street for the keys. I wean't leave place no more for nobody." "But I don't want to go over the church--at least not now. I want to come in, and see about having a room or two made comfortable." "Are yow t'new parson, then?" "Yes, I'm the new parson." "Ho! Then yow'd best come in." The door was held open, and looking at him very suspiciously, the lady in charge, to wit Mrs Simeon Slee, allowed the vicar to enter, and then followed him as he went from room to room, making up his mind what he should do as he ran his eye over the proportions of the house, finding in the course of his peregrinations that Mrs Slee had installed herself in the dining-room, which apparently served for kitchen as well, and had turned the pretty little drawing-room, opening into a shady verandah and perfect wilderness of a garden, into a very sparsely furnished bed-room. "That will do," said the vicar. "I suppose I can get some furniture in the town?" "Oh, yes, yow can get plenty furniture if you've got t'money. Only they wean't let yow have annything wi'out. They don't like strangers." "I dare say I can manage what I want, Mrs--Mrs--What is your name?" "Hey?" "I say, what is your name?" "Martha," said the woman, as if resenting an impertinence. "Your other name. I see you are a married woman." He pointed to the thin worn ring on her finger. "Oh, yes, I'm married," said the woman, bitterly; "worse luck." "You have no children, I suppose?"