"She would have been a very sweet sister to a man. Full of firmness, and ready to advise and help a fellow in his troubles. It must be very nice to have a sister--such a one as she." He walked on very slowly, growing moment by moment more thoughtful, and somehow his thoughts were of Rhoda Penwynn; but they were all chased away by the sight of the Reverend Edward Lee coming along the track. "Ah, Mr Lee!" he cried, holding out his hand, "how are you getting along?" The young clergyman started and looked confused. There was a shrinking manner about him as he unwillingly put out his hand to be heartily pressed; but somehow Geoffrey Trethick's will seemed always to master his, and he replied nervously to his inquiries. "I've been going to call upon you over and over again," said Geoffrey. "Coming for advice, and that sort of thing; but I suppose you are terribly busy over your new cure?" "I am--very busy," said the other, with a half sigh, as he recalled some of the difficulties of his task; and he looked nervously in Geoffrey's eyes, and felt constrained to say that he would be very glad to see him. "That's right," said Geoffrey, "I shall come. One has not too many cultivated acquaintances down here. And I'm a parishioner, you know." The Reverend Edward Lee grew bolder for this suggested duty. "And I have not called upon you," he said. "I have been remiss." "Ah, well, you'll make up for that," said Geoffrey. "Is--is that why I have not seen you at church?" he said. "Oh, no!" said Geoffrey. "That's because I have been remiss and--ah, here's Miss Penwynn." His companion started, and a slight colour came into his pale cheeks as Rhoda came round one of the rocky buttresses of the cliff, and, in spite of himself, as his keen eyes detected the change, Geoffrey felt a suspicion coming upon him that the Reverend Edward Lee had had some idea that Rhoda was walking in this direction, and had turned his steps that way so as to meet her. "Why, she's blushing, too!" said Geoffrey to himself, as Rhoda came up and shook hands with Mr Lee. "I need not shake hands with you again, Mr Trethick," she said. "By the way, it is very kind of you to call and talk to that poor Mrs Prawle." The vicar darted a quick glance from one to the other, and then, without making any pretence of going further, he turned round, and walked back beside Rhoda towards Carnac, Geoffrey coming behind, for the path did not admit of three abreast. The consequence was that he only came in for a stray word here and there, and told himself that being the third party he was _de trop_.