her anxious. Of course, he'll see at once that Mr. Thrush is an
educated man. I'm not afraid about that. It's only--well, the little
failing. It would mean so much for Mr. Thrush to get the post. He'll be
provided for for life. I've set my heart on it."

Annie came in.

"Oh, Annie, is it Mr. Thrush?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please ask him to come in."

With a very casual air, as of one doing a thing for no particular reason
and almost without thought, she lowered the wick of the lamp which
illuminated the room.

"We don't want it to flare," she said, as she came away from it. "Oh,
Mr. Thrush, here's my husband back again!"

With a certain unostentatious dignity Mr. Thrush stepped into the room.
He was most respectably dressed in a neat black suit, the coat of
which looked rather like either a frock coat which was in course of
diminishing gradually into what tailors call "a morning coat," or a
morning coat which was in course of expanding gently into a frock coat;
a speckless collar with points appeared above a pair of dark worsted
gloves, and a hat which resembled a square bowler half-way on the road
to top hatdom.

Dion felt touched by his appearance and his gait, which seemed to hint
at those rehearsals in the garden, and especially touched by the fact
that he had bought a new hat.

"Welcome home, sir!" he said at once to Dion. "I'm sure the country is
proud of you."

He paid the compliment with so much sincerity that Dion did not feel
embarrassed by it.

"Do sit down, Mr. Thrush," said Rosamund, after hands had been
cordially shaken. "No, not there!"--as he was about to sit full in the
lamplight--"This chair will be more comfortable. Now I'll leave you to
have a little talk with my husband."

With an inquiring look at Dion she went out of the room.

Before she came back Mr. Thrush had told Dion all his hopes and fears
with regard to the Dean, and had dwelt on his overwhelming desire to
become a verger. Quite unself-conscious in his simplicity he rose almost
to dignity. He frankly confessed his "failing," and alluded to the
taking of the modified pledge.

"We took it together, sir, your kind lady and I, we both pledged
ourselves never to touch a drop of liquor between meals whatever the
occasion."

"Quite right!" said Dion, with firmness, almost with bruskness.

"I'm glad you think so, sir. But a verger can't be too careful. He's
held up as an example to the whole city by his position, walking so
often