When the village gossip had reached the ears of the white-headed old Vicar, he sent for the girl and questioned her closely.  Mary was grieved to learn that such untrue and unkind stories were told about her.  She knew nothing, she said, of any lights or of any men.  As soon as it was too dusky to see to work she always fastened her door, and after she had had her supper, she covered the fire and blew out the rushlight and went to bed.