"Ah," said Dinah, quivering with alarm, "what does she think of us?" "Well, she"--Jerry hesitated, and finally answered the question with a solemn warning--"I don't think I'd call at the Vicarage for a few days, Dinah sweetest. She--she--well, you know mother." "Why does Mrs. Snow object?" asked Beatrice very directly. "I know oh, none better!" almost shouted Dinah; "no money!" Jerry nodded, with an admiring glance at her cleverness. "No money." "I thought so; and Mrs. Snow wants you to marry a millionairess?" Jerry nodded again. "As though a millionairess would look at the likes of me!" said he, with the chuckle of a nestling. "I wouldn't give even the plainest of them a chance!" cried Dinah jealously; "you could marry anyone with the way you have, Jerry dear." Miss Hedge laughed gaily. "Show me the way you have, Jerry dear!" she mimicked, whereat the young lover blushed redder than the poppies. "Oh, what rot! See here, girls both, we're all pals." "Dinah is something more than a pal since yesterday," observed Beatrice pointedly. "Oh, you know what I mean. Well, then father is pleased and would marry us himself, to save fees; but mother--oh, Lord!" "Will she part us, Jerry?" demanded Dinah in a small voice. Bashful as he was, Mr. Snow rose to the occasion, and taking her in his strong arms kissed her twice. "That's what I think!" said he, with the air of Ajax defying the lightning. "We'll be cut off with a shilling by mother; but we shall marry all the same, and live on the bread and cheese and kisses provided by the Morning Planet." "Thank you," said Miss Paslow tartly, "I provide my own kisses." "No, darling heart!" gurgled the ardent Jerry, "I do that!" and was about to repeat his conduct when the ceremony was interrupted. From the dungeon came the sound of a shrill voice indulging in abusive language. A few moments later and the narrow door was flung violently open. Vivian Paslow came out quietly enough, and was followed by a bent, dried-up ape of a man who was purple with fury. The contrast between the money-lender and his client was most marked. Alpenny was the missing link itself, and Vivian appeared beside him like one of a higher and more human race. Without taking any notice of the furious old creature, he walked towards the startled Beatrice and shook her by the hand. "Good-bye, Miss Hedge," he said loudly; then suddenly sank his voice to a hurried whisper. "Meet me to-night at seven, under the Witches' Oak." "Leave my place!" cried Alpenny, hobbling up, to interrupt this leave-taking; "you shall not speak to her." Paslow took his amazed sister on his arm and crossed to the gate, while Jerry, blinking and puzzled, followed after. Beatrice, as startled by Paslow's request as she was by the scene, remained where she was, and her stepfather chased his three visitors into the lane with opprobrious names. But before he could close the gate, Vivian turned suddenly on the abusive old wretch.