This soothed the sullen bystander a little, though he hardly knew why, unless it might be that he fancied that Barbara would not like to hear Mr. Scarlett described as a very amusing young man. But when she answered "Very amusing," with a certain slight crispness of tone, it struck him that he would have preferred that she should be indifferent.
The vicar took his leave a little later, mentioning the duties of the next day as a reason for his early departure. "Must be prepared, you know," he said as he shook hands with the squire.
Mr. Hayes came back from the door, smiling his little contemptuous smile. "That means that he has to open a drawer, and take out an old sermon," he said, turning to Mr. Masters. "Well, as I was saying——"
"Does he always preach old sermons?" Reynold asked Barbara.
"I think so. They always look very yellow, and they always seem old."
"Always preaches old sermons, and has the same old penny readings—do you go?"
"Oh yes, we always go. Uncle thinks we ought to go, only he won't let me do anything."
"Do you want to do anything?"
"No," said the girl. It was a truthful answer, but her consciousness of the intense scorn in Harding's voice made it doubly prompt.