"Go in, Bess," he shouted, and, shaking her off, he went close up to Geoffrey, who did not give way an inch, but looked full in the fierce, repulsive face thrust close to his, till the old man lowered his eyes, and stepped on one side, muttering angrily. "Do you always treat strangers like this, Master Prawle?" said Geoffrey, smiling. "Go away, I tell ye," said the old man, fiercely. "We want no dealings with the people." "Don't anger father, sir," said the girl, who, however, seemed to be in no wise put out by the old man's savage resentment. "Not I, my girl," replied Geoffrey; "but what is the matter with your mother?" "She fell off the cliff one night," said the girl, quickly. "Tell him to go, Bess," growled her father. "We don't want him here." "I asked the gentleman to come, father," said the girl. Then, turning to Geoffrey, "Thank you kindly, sir. It pleases mother." "Don't name it, my lass," replied Geoffrey, smiling, and the girl looked at him very fixedly, as she watched every turn in his frank, open face. "Good-day," he continued. "Good-day, Master Prawle." The old man scowled at him by way of reply, and then stood watching him till he had climbed back to the edge of the ravine, where, turning to glance down, Geoffrey saw father and daughter below, the latter returning his salute, as he waved his hand before passing out of their sight. "Old boy thought I was a hawk after his pigeon," said Geoffrey, lightly. "What an ill-conditioned old ogre! But there must be some good under his rough bark. Prawle, eh? Elizabeth, otherwise Bess. And the old woman! What a piteous face! Twenty years an invalid! Ah, well! I don't think Mr Prawle, of the hoarse voice and fierce tone, need be afraid; but I'd rather not offend him, say about the fair Elizabeth, and then meet him--angry--say beside the shaft of one of those old mines." He glanced then at his watch, and hastened his steps, for the time of his engagement at An Morlock was drawing near. CHAPTER TEN. GEOFFREY MAKES A DISCOVERY. "You are an extremely handsome young woman, and I like the bright, intelligent look in your eyes," said Geoffrey Trethick to himself; "but I'll swear you have got a temper." "You are a nice, frank, manly fellow," said Rhoda Penwynn to herself; "and I wonder whether you are as sensible and not so stubborn as you look." Introductions were just over in Mr Penwynn's drawing-room, and Geoffrey, who was in no wise taken aback by the splendour of his host's surroundings, walked across to where, cold and stiff and quiet, his travelling-companion stood, with one arm upon the mantelpiece, looking uneasily on. "It seems as if we are to be thrown together," said Geoffrey, offering the young clergyman his hand, which the latter took as if under protest, and then glanced from Mr Penwynn to his daughter, as if in apology for allowing himself to be claimed as an acquaintance by his bluff travelling-companion.