He was too proud to say much, but accepted at once the position of servant, and went his way to examine the mine once more, set the pumping-engine working at its highest pressure, and found at the end of twenty-four hours that he had not sunk the water the eighth of an inch. Then he had found himself deliberately "cut" by the better-class people in the place, and that his efforts to obtain even the humblest lodgings were in vain. The hotel people excused themselves on the plea of want of room, and for several nights he slept in the office by the mine. There was one man, though, who seemed to be hunting Geoffrey about from place to place, but he avoided him in his anger. "I know what he wants to say to me," he cried, "and, by George! I won't have it. I never did strike any one wearing the cloth, but I'm in that aggravated state of mind just now that if he did speak to me, and begin to preach, I should hit him." It is needless to say that the man he avoided was the vicar. "Reverend Master Lee has been here again, sir," said Amos Pengelly to him one morning, "and I said you'd be here soon, and he's coming again." "Then I won't see him," cried Geoffrey, angrily. "Look here, Pengelly, I'm not going to be driven out of Carnac. People are sending me to Coventry, and are trying to aggravate me into going, but I sha'n't go." "No, sir, I wouldn't go," said Pengelly, quietly. "I'd stay here and put the mine right, and then make amends." Trethick turned upon him fiercely, but Pengelly did not shrink, and the young man uttered an impatient "pish!" "Look here, Pengelly, I must have lodgings somewhere. What am I to do? I'm not a dog to live in this kennel of an office." "You can share my place if you like." "No, no; I told you I would not." "I was talking to Mrs Prawle about it last even, sir." "What! you were over at the Cove?" said Geoffrey, eagerly. "How was poor Madge?" "Very sadly, sir, they say. You haven't been over for some days." "I? No, of course not," said Geoffrey, sharply. "What should I do there?" "Mrs Prawle said that if you could not get a better place, they had their little parlour and the one room out of it to spare; and Bessie said she would tend you if you liked." "But, hang it, man! I couldn't go there," cried Geoffrey. "I don't see why, sir," said Pengelly, simply. "I couldn't go there now, or I'd give up my place to you, but you could." "Oh, no--impossible!" "They're wonderfully clean people, sir," continued Pengelly, "and, though the furnishing's humble, they'd make you very comfortable, for old Master Prawle's seldom in the house, and it's little you'd want it for except for your breakfast and to sleep." "But that poor girl's there," cried Geoffrey. "I don't see why that should make any difference, sir," said Pengelly. "I was talking to Bessie about it after Mrs Prawle had spoken, and I went against it; but she said it would be quite right, and hoped you would go."