"Well, of course, that's only my nonsense; but, as I told you, I saw the coach come in, and two gentlemen got down, both young and handsome--one fair, the other dark; and one is evidently our new vicar, and the other must be his friend. I am so glad, my dear, for I have been exceedingly anxious about the kind of person we were to have for our new clergyman." "Indeed!" said Rhoda, looking amused. "Why, I thought you went now to the Wesleyan chapel?" "What a dear satirical girl you are, Rhoda. You know I only went there on account of Mr Chynoweth, and because Mr Owen stared at me so dreadfully, and was so persistent in preaching about dress." "But surely that was only at the mining and fishing women, who have been growing dreadfully gay in their attire." "Oh dear, no, my dear! oh dear no!" said Miss Pavey, shaking her head. "I have the best of reasons for believing it was all directed at me. You remember his text the last Sunday I was at church?" "I am sorry to say I do not." "Dear me, I wonder at that. It was so very pointed. It was--`Who is this that cometh with dyed garments from Bozrah?' and he looked at me as he spoke. I think it was disgraceful." "But, my dear Martha, I think you are too sensitive." "Perhaps I am, my dear; perhaps I am. I have had my troubles; but that Mr Owen was dreadful. You know, my dear, he had--perhaps I ought not to say it, but I will--he evidently wanted to make an impression upon me, but I never could like him. He was so coarse, and abrupt, and short-sighted. He used to smoke pipes too. Mrs Mullion has told me, over and over again, that he would sit for hours of a night smoking pipes, and drinking gin and water, with that dreadfully wicked old man, Mr Paul. Really, my dear, I think some one ought to warn our new clergyman not to go and lodge at Mrs Mullion's. You see there is hardly any choice for a gentleman, and for one who looks so refined to go and stay at Mrs Mullion's would be dreadful." "Mrs Mullion is very good and amiable," said Rhoda. "Yes, my dear, she is; but Mr Paul is not a nice person; and then there is that Madge--dreadful girl!" Rhoda's heart gave a higher-pressure throb at this last name, and Miss Pavey ran on, as she could if she only obtained a good listener,-- "I do think that girl ought to be sent away from Carnac; I do, indeed. Really, my dear, if I had felt disposed to accept any advances on the part of Mr Tregenna, his conduct with that flighty creature would have set me against him."