d the Vicar, raising his glasses to his eyes, but
knowing perfectly well all the time, he having been one of the first to
learn of the doctor's eccentricity. "Ah, to be sure; Doctor Grayson's
_protege_. Yes, I remember him perfectly well, and I suppose you
remember me!"

"Yes, I remember you," said Dexter. "You called me a stupid boy because
I couldn't say all of _I desire_."

"Did I? Ah, to be sure, I remember. Well, but you are not stupid now.
I dare say, if I asked you, you would remember every word."

"Don't think I could," said the boy; "it's the hardest bit in the Cat."

"But I'm not going to ask you," said the Vicar. "Miss Grayson here will
examine you, I'm sure. There, good day. Good day, Miss Grayson;" and,
to Helen's great relief, he shook hands with both. "And I'm to ask you
not to throw stones in the churchyard," he added, shaking his stick
playfully. "My windows easily break."

He nodded and smiled again, as Helen and her young companion went on,
watching them till they had passed through the further gate and
disappeared.

"A mischievous young rascal!" he said to himself. "I believe I should
have given him the stick if it had been anybody else."

As he said this, he walked down a side path which led past the tomb that
had formed Dexter's target.

"I dare say he has chipped the urn," he continued, feeling exceedingly
vexed, as a Vicar always does when he finds any wanton defacement of the
building and surroundings in his charge.

"No," he said aloud, and in a satisfied tone, "unhurt. But tut--tut--
tut--tut! what tiresome young monkeys boys are!"

He turned back, and went thoughtfully toward the town.

"Singular freak on the part of Grayson. Most eccentric man," he
continued. "Danby tells me--now really what a coincidence! Sir James,
by all that is singular! Ah, my dear Sir James, I was thinking about
you. Ah, Edgar, my boy, how are you?"

He shook hands warmly with the magistrate and his son.

"Thinking about me, eh!" said Sir James, rather pompously. "Then I'll
be bound to say that I can tell you what you are thinking."

"No, I believe I may say for certain you cannot," said the Vicar,
smiling.

"Of calling on me for a subscription."

"Wrong this time," said the Vicar good-humouredly. "No; I have just met
Miss Grayson with that boy."

"Indeed!"

"Yes; very eccentric of Grayson, is it not!"

"Whim for a week or two. Soon get tired of it," said Sir James,
laughing