'Wouldn't a bishop content you?' sneered Mosk, with a scowl on his pimply face. 'You're talking of Mr Pendle, are you?' said Bell wilfully misunderstanding the insinuation. 'Yes, I am, you jade! and I won't have it. I tell you I won't!' 'Won't have what, father? Give it a name.' 'Why, this carrying on with that parson chap. Not as I've a word to say against Mr Pendle, because he's worth a dozen of the Cargrim lot, but he's gentry and you're not!' 'What's that got to do with it?' demanded Bell, with supreme contempt. 'This much,' raved Mosk, clenching his fist, 'that I won't have you running after him. D'y hear?' 'I hear; there is no need for you to rage the house down, father. I'm not running after Mr Pendle; he's running after me.' 'That's just as bad. You'll lose your character.' Bell fired up, and bounced to her feet. 'Who dares to say a word against my character?' she asked, panting and red. 'Old Jarper, for one. He said you went to see Mr Pendle last night.' 'So I did.' 'Oh, you did, did you? and here you've bin talking alone with him this morning for the last hour. What d'y mean by disgracing me?' 'Disgracing you!' scoffed Bell. 'Your character needs a lot of disgracing, doesn't it? Now, be sensible, father,' she added, advancing towards him, 'and I'll tell you the truth. I didn't intend to, but as you are so unreasonable I may as well set your mind at rest.' 'What are you driving at?' growled Mosk, struck by her placid manner. 'Well, to put the thing into a nutshell, Mr Pendle is going to marry me.' 'Marry you! Get along!' 'I don't see why you should doubt my word,' cried Bell, with an angry flush. 'I'm engaged to him as honourably as any young lady could be. He has written me lots of letters promising to make me his wife, he has given me a ring, and we're only waiting till he's appointed to be rector of Heathcroft to marry.' 'Well, I'm d----d,' observed Mr Mosk, slowly. 'Is this true?' 'I'll show you the ring and letters if you like,' said Bell, tartly, 'but I don't see why you should be so surprised. I'm good enough for him, I hope?' 'You're good-lookin', I dessay, Bell, but he's gentry.' 'I'm going to be gentry too, and I'll hold my own with the best of them. As Bishop Pendle's daughter-in-law, I'll scratch the eyes out of any of 'em as doesn't give me my place.' Mosk drew a long breath. 'Bishop Pendle's daughter-in-law,' he repeated, looking at his daughter with admiration. 'My stars! you are a clever girl, Bell.' 'I'm clever enough to get what I want, father, so long as you don't put your foot into it. Hold your tongue until I tell you when to speak. If the bishop knew of this now, he'd cut Gabriel off with a shilling.' 'Oh, he would, would he?' said Mosk, in so strange a tone that Bell looked at him with some wonder. 'Of course he would,' said she, quietly; 'but when Gabriel is rector of Heathcroft it won't matter. We'll then have money enough to do without his consent.'