I don't suppose you do. You're not the sort of man to feel like
dirt before anyone--not before King George on his throne. But you
may take my word for it there's a kind of man that likes it: when he
looks at a woman, I mean. 'Take care, my lady,' I said; 'you're
delicate and proud now, and as dainty as a bit of china. But once
you fall off the shelf--well, down you go, and 'tis all over but the
broom and the dust-heap. There you'll lie, with no man to look at
you; worse than the coarsest pint-pot a man will drink out of.'
You understand me now, Mr. Wesley?"

"I do, sir, to my sorrow, but--"

"But that's just where you're wrong--you _don't_!" Mr. Wright cried
triumphantly, and pursued with an earnestness which held Mr. Wesley
still in his chair. "I'll swear to you, sir, that if I could have
stopped this, I would: ay, though it killed my only chance. But I
couldn't. The thing's done. And I tell you, sir"--his face was
flushed now, and his voice shaking--"broken as she is, I do worship
Miss Hetty beyond any woman in the world. I do worship her as if she
had tumbled slap out of heaven. I--I--there you have it, any way: so
if you'll leave talking about the little account between us--"

Mr. Wesley stood up, drew out his keys, opened the cupboard and began
counting the sum out upon the table.

"You misunderstand me, sir: indeed you do!" Mr. Wright protested.

"Maybe," answered the Rector grimly. "But I happen to be consulting
my own choice. Twelve pounds seventeen and sixpence, I think you
said? You had best sit down and write out a receipt."

"But why interrupt a man, sir, when he's thinking of higher things,
and with his hand 'most too shaky to hold a pen?"

The Rector walked to the window and stood waiting while the receipt
was made out: then took the paper, went to the cupboard and filed it,
locked the door and resumed his seat.

"Now, sir, let me understand your further business. You desire, I
gather, to marry my daughter Mehetabel?"

Mr. Wright gasped and swallowed something in his throat. Put into
words, his audacity frightened him. "That's so, sir," he managed to
answer.

"Knowing her late conduct?"

"If I didn't," Mr. Wright answered frankly, "I shouldn't ha' been
fool enough to come."

"You are a convinced Christian?"

"I go to church off and on, if that's what you mean, sir."

"'Tis not in the least what I mean, Mr. Wright."

"There's no reason why I shouldn't go oftener."

"Th