"And to me!" (Here she made a little grimace of disgust.) "I knew
beforehand I had to face the plate--but the contents! Where did you
sit?"

"I was forced to stay a trifle in the background, I entered so late.
It was your 'Minstrel Boy' that dragged me out of my armchair in the
lounge."

"Then perhaps you saw the plate? I know by your face that you did! You
saw the sixpences, which I shall never forget, and the pennies, which
I will never forgive! I thirst for the blood of those who put in
pennies!"

"They would all have been sitting in boiling oil since Friday if I had
had my way," responded Appleton.

Tommy laughed delightedly. "I know now who put in the sovereign! I
knew every face in that audience--that wasn't difficult in so small a
one--and I tried and tried to fix the sovereign on any one of them,
and couldn't. At last I determined that it was the old gentleman who
went out in the middle of 'Allan Water,' feeling that he would rather
pay anything than stay any longer. Confess! it _was_ you!"

Appleton felt very sheepish as he met Tommy's dancing eyes and
heightened color.

"I couldn't bear to let you see those pennies," he stammered, "but I
couldn't get them out before the page came to take the plate."

"Perhaps you were 'pound foolish,' and the others were 'penny wise,'
but it was awfully nice of you. If I can pay my bill here without
spending that sovereign, I believe I'll keep it for a lucky piece. I
shall be very rich by Saturday night, anyway."

"A legacy due?"

"Goodness, no! I haven't a relation in the world except one, who
disapproves of me; not so much as I disapprove of him, however. No,
Albert Spalding and Donald Tovey have engaged me for a concert in
Torquay."

"I have some business in Torquay which will keep me there for a few
days on my way back to Wells," said Appleton nonchalantly. (The
bishop's letter had been a pure and undefiled source of information on
all points.)

"Why, how funny! I hope you'll be there on Saturday. There'll be no
plate! Tickets two and six to seven and six, but you shall be my
guest, my sovereign guest. I am going to Wells myself to stay
till--till I make up my mind about a few things."

"America next?" inquired Appleton, keeping his voice as colorless as
possible.

"I don't know. Helena made me resign my church position in Brooklyn,
and for the moment my 'career' is undecided."

She laughed, but her eyes denied the mirth that her lips affirmed, and
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