determined that there should be no misunderstanding this time.

'Ah! it was out of your power to give me a husband,' murmured Daisy,
wincing.

'Quite true, my dear; just as it was out of your power to gain one for
yourself. Still, I am sorry that Dr Alder did not propose.'

'Indeed!' Daisy tossed her head. 'I should certainly have refused him
had he done so. A woman may not marry her grandfather.'

'A woman may not, but a woman would, rather than remain single,' snapped
Mrs Pansey, with considerable spite.

Miss Norsham carefully inserted a corner of a foolish little
handkerchief into one eye. 'Oh, dear, I do call it nasty of you to speak
to me so,' said she, tearfully. 'You needn't think, like all men do,
that every woman wants to be married. I'm sure I don't.'

The old lady smiled grimly at this appalling lie, but thinking that she
had been a little hard on her departing guest, hastened to apologise.
'I'm sure you don't, dear, and very sensible it is of you to say so.
Judging from my own experience with the archdeacon, I should certainly
advise no one to marry.'

'You are wise after the event,' muttered Daisy, with some anger, 'but
here is my train, Mrs Pansey, thank you!' and she slipped into a
first-class carriage, looking decidedly cross and very defiant. To fail
in husband-hunting was bad enough, but to be taunted with the failure
was unbearable. Daisy no longer wondered that Mrs Pansey was hated in
Beorminster; her own feelings at the moment urged her to thrust the good
lady under the wheels of the engine.

'Well, dear, I'll say good-bye,' said Mrs Pansey, screwing her grim face
into an amiable smile. 'Be sure you give my love to your mother, dear,'
and the two kissed with that show of affection to be seen existing
between ladies who do not love one another over much.

'Horrid old cat!' said Daisy to herself, as she waved her handkerchief
from the now moving train.

'Dear me! how I dislike that girl,' soliloquised Mrs Pansey, shaking her
reticule at the departing Daisy. 'Well! well! no one can say that I have
not done my duty by her,' and much pleased with herself, the good lady
stalked majestically out of the station, on the lookout to seize upon
and worry any of her friends who might be in the vicinity. For his sins
Providence sent Gabriel into her clutches, and Mrs Pansey was transfixed
with astonishment at the sight of him issuing from the station.

'Mr Pendle!' she said, placing herself directly