o himself, "he was going to fetch that artist. Oh, he
will be all right."

Yet as evening wore on the mill-owner began to feel anxious, and his
anxiety caused him to take his hat and stick and walk up to the
Vicarage.

"Will?" said the Vicar, "No. Isn't he at the mill?"

"No--nor Josh."

"Ah!" said the Vicar. "I have not seen either of them all day."

"Humph! They ought to be able to take care of themselves by this time.
But I shall go on to Drinkwater's cottage and inquire."

"I'll come with you," said the Vicar, eagerly, and he took his hat off
its peg in the square-shaped wainscotted hall. "Our two lads," he said,
as they walked quickly along the road to the cottage, "are so much
together that I always feel that when Josh is out he is sure to be at
the mill. That is why I never feel particularly surprised when he does
not come back to meals."

"Just so; but they are so ready to be up to mischief that I am beginning
to be afraid. Ah! at last," continued Mr Willows, with a sigh, as they
reached the cottage, where lights shone already through the
white-curtained windows.

He passed through the nicely kept garden and knocked at the door, which
was opened by Mrs Drinkwater, who curtseyed when she saw who her
visitors were.

"Have you seen my son, Mrs Drinkwater?" asked Mr Willows. "Did he
come here to-day to see Mr Manners?"

"Yes, sir; this morning," said the woman, making way for the two
visitors to enter the neatly furnished sitting-room, where supper was on
the way.

"Oh! this morning? But I am disturbing you at supper. Evening, James,"
he said, as he and his companion entered the room, to see Drinkwater,
who was just finishing his meal.

"Good-evening, sir. Disturbing me? No matter, master," said the man,
rising and standing facing the newcomers, with one hand on the table.
"So Master Will was here this morning, wife?"

"Yes, yes," cried the woman; "as I say. He and Mr Josh came down
together. They were looking for Mr Manners then, and seemed
disappointed-like that he was out."

"Of course," said the mill-owner; "of course. They would be. They
wanted the artist to come to the mill. Well, well! And afterwards what
happened?"

"Well, sir, Mr Manners had gone, and that's all I know, sir. The two
young gentlemen went away together."

"They went to look for him, naturally. But where had he gone?"

"He was going to the Tor, sir. He went away early, with his canvas and
things, to