towards Hardy's
lodgings, the "Red Lion" being still in possession of East's
guests.

"Well, how do you think it all went off?" asked he. "Nothing
could have been better," said Hardy; "and they all seem so
inclined to be reasonable that I don't think we shall even have a
roaring song along the street to-night when the "Red Lion" shuts
up."

"And you are satisfied, Tom?"

"I should think so. I have been hoping for this day any time this
four years, and now it has come, and gone off well, too, thanks
to you, Harry."

"Thanks to me? Very good; I am open to any amount of gratitude."

"I think you have every reason to be satisfied with your second
day's work at Englebourn, at any rate."

"So I am. I only hope it may turn out as well as the first."

"Oh, there's no doubt about that."

"I don't know. I rather believe in the rule of contraries."

"How do you mean?"

"Why, when you inveigled me over from Oxford, and we carried off
the sergeant from the authorities, and defeated the yeomanry in
that tremendous thunder-storm, I thought we were a couple of
idiots, and deserved a week each in the lockup for our pains.
That business turned out well. This time we have started with
flying colours and bells ringing, and so--"

"This business will turn out better. Why not?"

"Then let us manage a third day's work in these parts as soon as
possible. I should like to get to the third degree of comparison,
and perhaps the superlative will turn up trumps for me somehow.
Are there many more young women in the place as pretty as Mrs.
Winburn? This marrying complaint is very catching, I find."

"There's my cousin Katie," said Tom, looking stealthily at Hardy;
"I won't allow that there's any face in the country-side to match
hers. What do you say, Jack?"

Hardy was confused by this sudden appeal.

"I haven't been long enough here to judge," he said. "I have
always considered Miss Winter very beautiful. I see it is nearly
seven o'clock, and I have a call or two to make in the village. I
should think you ought to get some rest after this tiring day,
Captain East?"

"What are you going to do, Tom?"

"W ell, I was thinking of just throwing a fly over the mill tail.
There's such a fine head of water on."

"Isn't it too bright?"

"W ell, perhaps it is a little; marrying weather and fishing
weather don't agree. Only what else is there to do? But if you
are tired," he added, looking at East, "I don't care a straw
about it.