Rhoda's heart beat faster still, and the colour went and came in her face as she listened. She blamed herself for hearkening to such petty gossip, but her visitor was determined to go on, and added confidence to confidence, for, as it may be gathered, Miss Martha Pavey's peculiar idiosyncrasy was a belief that was terribly persecuted by the male sex, who eagerly sought her hand in marriage, though at the present time a gossip of Carnac had told another gossip that Miss Pavey was "setting her gashly old cap now at Methody Parson." "Don't you think, my dear," continued the visitor, "that your papa ought to interfere?" "Interfere? About what?" exclaimed Rhoda, whose thoughts had run off to her conversation with her father that morning. "Why, what are you thinking about, Rhoda?" cried Miss Pavey. "Oh, you naughty, naughty girl, you! You were thinking about our handsome young clergyman and his young friend. Oh, for shame, for shame?" "Indeed, I was not!" exclaimed Rhoda, half amused, half indignant at her visitor's folly. "Oh, don't tell me, dear," said Miss Pavey, shaking her head. "It's very shocking of you, but I don't wonder. See how few marriageable gentlemen there are about here." "Miss Pavey, pray don't be so absurd," exclaimed Rhoda. "Oh, no, my dear, I will not," said the visitor, blushing, and then indulging in a peculiar giggle; "but after all, there is a something in wedlock, my dear Rhoda." "A something in wedlock?" "Yes, dear, there is, you know, speaking to one another as confidantes-- there is a something in wedlock after all, as you must own." "I never think of such a thing," said Rhoda, laughing, for Miss Pavey's evident leanings towards the subject under discussion were very droll. "Of course not, my dear," said Miss Pavey, seriously. "We none of us ever do; but still there are times when the matter is forced upon us, as in this case; and who knows, my dear, what may happen? You did not see them, I suppose?" "See? whom?" "My dear child, how dense you are this morning! The two new-comers, of course. And don't you think that something ought to be done to warn them about where they are to take apartments?" "Certainly not," said Rhoda. "It would be the height of impertinence." "Oh, really, I cannot agree with you there, my dear Rhoda. I think it would be grievous to let this young clergyman go to Mullion's, and really there is not another place in Carnac where a gentleman could lodge. In fact, I would sooner make the offer that he should board at my little home." "Board--take apartments at Dinas Vale?" "Certainly, my dear. He is a clergyman, and we ought to extend some kind of hospitality to him. I regret that my limited income does not permit me to say to him, `Take up your home here for the present as a guest.' Of course I would not open my doors to any one but a clergyman."