"He's a brave, good young man, my dear," said Mrs Prawle, wiping her eyes, "and he often comes over and spends a sixpence here." "Does he?" said Rhoda, quietly. "Yes, very often; but Prawle don't like it, though I can't see why, my dear, for no young man could be nicer; and if he has took a fancy to our Bess, and should marry her, it would be the happiest day of my life." "But--do you think--" "Well, I don't know," said the invalid, glad of an opportunity to prattle on; "she's a good and a handsome girl, as she showed in the way she sent that Mr Tregenna about his business, and it was a merciful thing that Prawle never did him a mischief; he's that violent, and Mr Tregenna was always hanging about to see our Bess." "Yes, yes," said Rhoda, colouring, "I know about that;" and then, her woman's curiosity prevailing over her dislike to hear gossip, she continued, "but you don't think Mr Trethick comes to--" "See our Bess, my dear? Well, I can't say. He's quite a gentleman, and I'm sure if he does he means honourable to her." "Yes, yes, of course," said Rhoda, hastily, "but he is quite a stranger." "Yes, my dear, and it may be all my fancy; but gentlemen do sometimes marry poor girls--not that my Bess is poor, or will be poor," she said, proudly. "There's many a farmer's or captain's daughter will be worse off than she." "But I thought," exclaimed Rhoda, "that Bess had a sweetheart--that lame man, Pengelly?" "No," said the invalid, "I don't think that's any thing. He's a good young man--so religious, and sings and prays beautifully. He prayed here by me one Sunday for a whole hour; but it is not nature that my Bess should care for the likes of him, even if he does worship the ground she walks upon." The old woman prattled away, but Rhoda did not hear her, for somehow her mind was busy running on with Geoffrey Trethick's career, and she was thinking how strange it would be if he married the old smuggler's handsome daughter, who, it was reputed, would have plenty of money when her father died, but was to be avoided on account of the possession of the evil eye. At last the visit was brought to an end, Rhoda promising, somewhat unwillingly, to come soon again; when Bess was summoned to come in, with her fearless erect carriage, to do up the parcel of sweets that the visitor purchased. As they were taken, the eyes of the two girls met, each gazing searchingly at the other, and to Rhoda it seemed that there was a calm, triumphant smile on the face of Bess, who almost looked at her mockingly, though there was a bitterness in the curl of her lip. Somehow Rhoda grew very thoughtful as she slowly made her way back. Geoffrey Trethick was nothing to her, but he had been their guest, and it seemed to be almost an insult that he should know them, and yet stoop to the pursuit of this common peasant girl.