Mr Pendle?'

'Mr Pendle is an exception,' retorted Bell, blushing, and again fell to
wiping the counter in a fury, so as to keep her hands from Mr Cargrim's
ears.

'I wish to see Mrs Mosk particularly,' reiterated Cargrim, who was bent
upon carrying his point. 'If not, your father will do.'

'My father is absent in Southberry. Why do you want to see my mother?'

'I'll tell her that myself--with your permission,' said Cargrim,
suavely.

'You sha'n't, then,' cried Bell, and flung down her duster with
sparkling eyes.

'In that case I must go away,' replied Cargrim, seeing he was beaten,
'and I thank you, Miss Mosk, for your politeness. By the way,' he added,
as he half returned, 'will you tell that gentleman with the scar on the
cheek that I wish to see him also?'

'Seems to me you wish to see everybody about here,' said Bell,
scornfully. 'I'll tell Mr Jentham if you like. Now go away; I'm busy.'

'Jentham!' repeated Cargrim, as he walked homeward. 'Now, I wonder if
I'll find that name in the bishop's cheque-book.'

CHAPTER VII

AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION

When Mr Cargrim took an idea into his head it was not easy to get it out
again, and to this resolute obstinacy he owed no small part of his
success. He was like the famous drop of water and would wear away any
human stone, however hard it might be. Again and again, when baffled, he
returned with gentle persistence to the object he had in view, and
however strong of will his adversary happened to be, that will was
bound, in the long run, to yield to the incessant attacks of the
chaplain. At the present moment he desired to have an interview with Mrs
Mosk, and he was determined to obtain one in spite of Bell's refusal.
However, he had no time to waste on the persuasive method, as he wished
to see the invalid before the bishop returned. To achieve this end he
enlisted the services of Mrs Pansey.

That good lady sometimes indulged in a species of persecution she termed
district-visiting, which usually consisted in her thrusting herself at
untoward times into poor people's houses and asking them questions about
their private affairs. When she had learned all she wished to know, and
had given her advice in the tone of a command not to be disobeyed, she
would retire, leaving the evidence of her trail behind her in the shape
of a nauseous little tract with an abusive title. It was no use any poor
creature refusing to see Mrs Pansey, for she forced herself