per over the hedge and
walked quickly away. Tony gave the odd-job man time to pick up the
billet and presently strolled round, still drying his hands.

"Clean, sir?" asked the odd-job man stolidly. After all, the privet was
thick and Tony might not have seen.

"Yes, thanks.... I say, Brown, I've been thinking over what you said
about work just now. It seems to me that there's quite a lot to be said
for it."

"Yes, sir?"

"I should like to know more ... to hear a little more about the
practical side of the question before making up my mind as to its
intrinsic worth. I wonder if you'd care to smoke a pipe and try the
cider of The Happy Heart with me to-night?"

"Thank you, sir," replied Brown, betraying no surprise, "but I'm afraid
I'm too busy."

"To-morrow, then...."

"Busy to-morrow, sir, too."

"Sunday an off day?"

"To be frank, sir, I have a young lady...."

"Ah!" said Tony, hoping to hear something. "I won't press you then. I
wish you luck."

"Thank you, sir."

There was a brief silence that Tony felt oppressive. He was the first to
break it.

"Been engaged long, Brown?"

"No, sir. Not very long."

Another silence. The impenetrability of these yokels is not
exhilarating. Tony felt chilled, disappointed. He tried again.

"I suppose it's almost as engrossing as work, Brown?"

"Yes, sir; almost."

He said it without a smile, as if he was quite serious. But Tony
suspected him of being guileful. Clearly it was useless to prolong the
conversation. He sighed.

"Well, I must look for my friend. Good-by, Brown. Do come and talk to me
about work sometime, when the lady is otherwise engaged."

"Thank you, sir."

Tony moved off to find Robert. He was discovered in the kitchen-garden,
pretending to admire vegetable-marrows. Mrs. Peters was hovering grimly
in the rear, a silent watchful figure. The vicar was dilating on the
excellence of marrow jam. After saying good-by, Tony and Robert went off
to the inn. The vicar turned to his wife with a smile.

"Quite a pleasant afternoon, my dear. I like Mr. Bangs. Mr. Wild, too,
is amusing, though cynical. But we mustn't judge too harshly--perhaps he
has had a disappointment and his cynicism is half-assumed. Undoubtedly
humorous and clever. Some of his shots hit the mark."

"You think so?" said Mrs. Peters icily. "I dislike them both. Mr. Bangs,
to say the least, is anything but _quiet_; Mr. Wild, I am sure, is a man
who has had a gentleman's education an