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Michael, in his turn, also denied it; but he was not believed. Anyway, the covert whisper had gone abroad and would not be laid. Captain Monk speedily filled up the vacant living, appointing to it the Reverend Thomas Dancox, an occasional visitor at Leet Hall, who was looking out for one.
"I ask to be answered," replied he, standing with his hands in the pockets of his velveteen shooting coat, a purple tinge of incipient anger rising in his cheeks. "Then Mr. Dancox did spend Monday evening here." "And I saw him walking with you in the meadow by the rill this morning," continued the Captain. "Look here, Katherine, no sweet-hearting with Tom Dancox.
The new Vicar turned out to be a man after the Captain's heart, a rollicking, jovial, fox-hunting young parson, as many a parson was in those days and took small blame to himself for it. He was only a year or two past thirty, good-looking, of taking manners and hail-fellow-well-met with the parish in general, who liked him and called him to his face Tom Dancox. All this pleased Captain Monk.
Dancox?" she asked of Rimmer. "Not while I was there, Miss Katherine. The master tore the note into bits, after reading it; and dropped them under the table." Now it chanced that Mr. Dancox, glancing covertly at the note while the Captain held it to the light, had read what was written there. For a few minutes he said nothing. The Captain was busy sending round the wine.
But very soon something was to arrive that did not please him a suspicion that the young parson and his daughter Katherine were on rather too good terms with one another. One day in November he stalked into the drawing-room, where Katherine was sitting with her aunt. Hubert and Eliza were away at school, also Mrs. Carradyne's two children. "Was Dancox here last night?" began Captain Monk.
Your papa is perfectly right in this matter. Tom Dancox is not suitable in any way for you." This took place in November. Katherine paid little heed to the advice; she was not one to put up with advice of any sort, and she and Mr. Dancox met occasionally under the rose. Early in December she went with Mr. Dancox into the Parsonage, while he searched for a book he was about to lend her.
Dancox, rising. "Won't be away two minutes, sir." "Bring him back with you; tell him he'll find good wine here and jolly cheer," said the Captain. And Mr. Dancox went out, swinging his table-napkin in his hand. In crossing the hall he met Katherine, exchanged a hasty word with her, let fall the serviette on a chair as he caught up his hat and overcoat, and went out. Katherine ran upstairs.
But though Eliza went at once, her quest was useless. Miss Katherine was not in the house: Miss Katherine had made a moonlight flitting from it that evening with the Reverend Thomas Dancox. You will hear more in the next paper. Blue eyes that laugh at early morn May weep ere close of day; And weeping is a thing of scorn To those whose hearts are gay. Ah, simple souls, beware, beware!
Nearly all the guests of last year were again present in the warm and holly-decorated dining-room, the one notable exception being the ill-fated Parson West. Parson Dancox came in his stead, and said grace from the post of honour at the Captain's right hand.
Carradyne spoke, dropping her voice: "Katherine, you know that I had already warned you. I told you it would not do to fall into any particular friendship with Mr. Dancox; that your father would never countenance it." "And if I were to? and if he did not?" scornfully returned Katherine. "What then, Aunt Emma?" "Be silent, child; you must not talk in that strain.
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