clined, after what I've heard, to drink the same toast myself!"
Tregenna agreed, anxious for another chance of a word with Joan. But he saw no more of her that night. Even while the vicar was giving this invitation, his daughter had slipped quietly into the house, and disappeared for the night.
This left Tregenna free to tell his host, over the nut-brown ale which the vicar poured out with loving hands, the whole story of the adventures of the evening. Astounded, enthralled, marveling at his daughter's courage, and furious at the smugglers' daring outrage, the vicar listened with all his ears.
And when the young man's tone grew lower, his eyes more passionate, as he declared his love and admiration for the girl who had risked so much for him, Parson Langney listened sympathetically, and with tears in his eyes, to the tale he had often indeed heard before, but never from such eager lips.
"Ay, ay, she's a good girl, a good girl, my bonnie Joan!" said he, in a tremulous voice, when Tregenna paused. "You're not the first that has come to me with this tale, sir, though
