"Ah! the parson gets on better with you, my fine fellow," said Geoffrey. "You haven't so many corners as I have. Humph! I don't like you, though. You seem to be the man in possession, though, here, and certainly she is a very charming girl." He met Rhoda's eyes as these thoughts passed through his mind, and she encountered his gaze with a frank, open look, though he fancied that she seemed a shade paler than when he was talking to her a few minutes before. Just then dinner was announced, and Mr Penwynn turned to speak to Geoffrey, but bit his lip and glanced at Tregenna, who, however, only smiled back and nodded, as if amused; for Rhoda, acting the part of mistress of the house, extended her gloved hand so unmistakably that Geoffrey stepped forward, the hand was laid upon his arm, and, passing the others, he led her across the hall to the handsome dining-room, thinking to himself that by rights the Reverend Edward Lee ought to have occupied his place. The dinner was good and well served, every thing making it evident that Mr Penwynn was a wealthy man, and one who liked to show it; but the ostentation was a good deal toned down by his child's refined taste, and was not obtrusive. The conversation kept up was such as would be heard at any gentleman's table, and it soon became evident that the West-country banker and his daughter were well-informed, and loved and cultivated refinement. Geoffrey particularly noted how clever and gentlemanly Mr Tregenna could be. By degrees it dawned upon him that he was the principal solicitor of the place, and without its troubling him in the slightest degree, he made out that Tregenna was evidently a suitor for Rhoda Penwynn's hand. Both father and lover showed this, the former being plainly in favour of the match; while, in spite of her efforts to the contrary, Rhoda Penwynn displayed her consciousness of Tregenna's expressive looks by redoubling her attention to Geoffrey and the new vicar--Geoffrey chatting freely, and in the most unembarrassed way, so different to any young man she had met before, and questioning her largely about the place and people. "A glass of wine with you, Mr Trethick," said the host, who, in spite of advances, adhered somewhat to old customs. "Tregenna, will you join us?" "With pleasure," said the latter, looking up and smiling, and as he did so the thought that had been puzzling Geoffrey all through the dinner met with a solution. He had been wondering--his wonder running like a vein through the whole of the conversation--where he had met Tregenna before; but now it came to him that for certain they had never met, but that it was that smooth, deep, mellow voice that he had heard, but where? "I have it," he mentally exclaimed, as, raising his glass, he looked full in John Tregenna's eyes. "You were the fellow I heard talking to that girl by the ruined mine?" CHAPTER ELEVEN. AN OPINION OF TREGENNA.