"What's that for, Doll?" and the yeoman laughed and opened his eyes wide.
"For calling yourself my father. You have not spoken of me as your child for so long. I thought you meant to disown me altogether."
Dorothy looked so sweetly and spoke so pleasantly, that the old man's anger vanished in her smile.
"Go thy ways, Dolly, thou art a good wench. I love thee well, and thou know'st it. If I be crusty, it's no new thing to thee, who know'st my nature far better, nor I do mysel'. Like old Pincher, my bark is a great deal worse nor my bite."
CHAPTER VI.
DOROTHY DOES NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH THE VICAR AT FIRST SIGHT.
Dorothy was not long in retracing her steps to the parsonage. She found Mrs. Martin up to her eyes in business, taking up carpets, shifting furniture, and giving the house a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. The curate, who was generally very helpless on such occasions, and decidedly in everybody's way during these domestic ordeals, was busy stowing away books and papers out of the reach of mops and brooms.
"Now, Dorothy, which do you think will be the best room to give Mr. Fitzmorris for his study? The one over the parlour that looks to the south, and has such a nice view of Lord Wilton's plantations, or the east chamber, which has such a fine prospect of the sea? Men are always fond of the sea."