"Thank heaven for that!" said Bella fervently. She knew no more than did Silas how the change had come about. But it was evident that the blow on his head had suddenly rearranged his ideas.
"Up to ten o'clock last night I loved you madly, despairingly, and would have risked my soul to gain your hand. But since I fell"—he passed his hand across his forehead in a bewildered manner—"everything has changed."
"And for the better," Bella assured him. "Come, don't think anything more about the matter. I have rung the bell for tea."
"I rung the bell also last night. It brought in Mrs. Queen, very fortunately, or I might have bled to death, Miss Faith."
"Why do you call me Miss Faith?" asked Bella abruptly.
"Because you are Miss Faith," said the preacher, lifting his haggard face to her own in some surprise. "Did not the black man tell you?"
"How do you know that I have anything to do with the black man?"
"I have seen Mr. Lister with him. I saw you all three talking on the common. Oh, Miss Faith, you don't know how I have followed and spied on you!" and the man flushed with shame and dismay.
"Did you listen?" asked Bella abruptly.
"No; I did not fall so low as that, but I followed and watched."