uction and greeting was over, Mr. Winch
seated himself between Mr. Sopley and Bindle, who had been much
interested to hear that the new arrival was a missionary.

"Do yer live in the jungle, sir?" enquired Bindle of Mr. Winch.

"Well, I live in the interior, miles away from any other white men,"
replied Mr. Winch. "Why do you ask?"

Bindle was thoughtful for a moment.

"Did yer 'appen to take a double-bed with yer, sir?" enquired Bindle.

"A double-bed?" Mr. Winch looked surprised. "Why, no."

Mr. Hearty coughed, Mr. Sopley lifted his eyes to the ceiling as if
seeking explanation from heaven. Mrs. Hearty wheezed, and Mrs.
Bindle's lips entirely disappeared. Bindle looked round at the
embarrassed faces.

"I only knew one missionary," he remarked, "an' 'e wanted to take a
double-bed into the jungle. Seemed a bit funny like----"

"You must have some lemonade," interrupted Mr. Hearty with forced
geniality.

Mr. Winch smilingly declined, then turning to Bindle, he said:

"No, I have a camp-bedstead, which does not err on the side of luxury
or comfort."

Bindle liked this young man with the blue eyes and ready laugh. After
watching him for some time, he remarked:

"Yer seem sort of 'appy, sir, if I may say so."

"I am," replied Mr. Winch with a smile.

"Funny," murmured Bindle, half to himself, "an' you a parson, leastwise
a missionary."

"But what has that got to do with it?" Mr. Winch looked at Bindle in
surprise.

Bindle cast his eyes round the room. "They don't look wot yer'd call a
jolly crowd, do they? Look at ole Woe an' Whiskers." Bindle's glance
left no doubt in Mr. Winch's mind as to whom he referred.

The missionary bit his lip to hide a smile.

"Mr. Sopley has had a lot of trouble," he said quietly.

"It seems to 'ave gone to 'is face," was Bindle's comment. "'E might
be a bigamist from the look of 'im."

Mr. Winch laughed aloud. "Why?" he asked.

"You married?" enquired Bindle.

"No."

"Yer'll know when yer are," was the laconic reply.

The arrival of Mr. Winch seemed to transform the whole assembly. He
and Bindle quickly became the leaders of the revels. Faces that had
hitherto been shrouded in gloom broke into slow and hesitant smiles.
Several of the men laughed, arguing that if so devout a man as Mr.
Winch could find it in him to laugh, as he very frequently did, then
surely they, being merely laymen, might allow themselves the same
privilege.

It was Mr. Winch w