"I'm much obliged to Alfred for a timely hint. But couldn't this have kept till the morning?"
"There's something else, sir."
"Out with it!" He smiled more encouragingly.
"After Alfred went, Molly told me as everybody in village was saying as how George Mucklow's father made him go, and that upset the other young men.... And then...."
Her soft voice faltered and died away.
"And then...?"
"Molly and me fell to talking about Mr. Edward."
The sympathy in her voice was almost too much for the Parson. He shaded his eyes with his hand. She continued in a lower tone:
"Excuse me, sir, for asking you something, but I do want to know so bad."
"Ask your question, Fancy."