Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENS 'I Fear,' said Cargrim, with a gentle sigh, 'I fear you are right about that public-house, Mrs Pansey.' The chaplain made this remark to renew the discussion, and if possible bring Gabriel into verbal conflict with the lady. He had a great idea of managing people by getting them under his thumb, and so far quite deserved Mrs Pansey's epithet of a Jesuit. Of late—as Cargrim knew by a steady use of his pale blue eyes—the curate had been visiting The Derby Winner, ostensibly on parochial business connected with the ill-healih of Mrs Mosk, the landlord's wife. But there was a handsome daughter of the invalid who acted as barmaid, and Gabriel was a young and inflammable man; so, putting this and that together, the chaplain thought he discovered the germs of a scandal. Hence his interest in Mrs Pansey's proposed reforms. 'Right!' echoed the archidiaconal widow, loudly, 'of course I am right. The Derby Winner is a nest of hawks. William Mosk would have disgraced heathen Rome in its worst days ; as for his daughter—well I Mrs Pansey threw a world of horror into the ejaculation. ' Miss Mosk is a well-conducted young lady,' said Gabriel, growing red and injudicious. 'Lady!' bellowed Mrs Pansey, shaking her fan; 'and since when have brazen, painted barmaids become ladies, Mr Pendle ?' ' She is most attentive to her sick mother,' protested the curate, wincing. ' No doubt, sir. I presume even Jezebel had some redeeming qualities. Rubbish ! humbug ! don't tell me ! Can good come out of Nazareth ?' ' Good did come out of Nazareth, Mrs Pansey.' ' That is enough, Mr Pendle ; do not pollute young ears with blasphemy. And you the son of a bishop—the curate of a parish! Remember what is to be the portion of mockers, sir. What happened t... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.