tion."

"Dear, dear! How disappointing."

"So if that is your only object in calling----" Her hand went out
toward the bell.

"I pray you will allow me to remain a moment and recover my breath.
The heat of the walk, you know. I am not as young as I was."

"No one is," replied Mrs. Barraclough uncompromisingly.

"How very, very true," said Mr. Bolt with outward benevolence but
inwardly with a powerful inclination toward violence. "Yes, very true,
although it is bitter indeed to be taunted with lack of youth. In the
words of the Gospel 'do unto others as you would be done by.'"

"In what particular part of the Gospel does that phrase occur?"
demanded Mrs. Barraclough shrewdly.

But Alfred Bolt was not a man to be caught out in the first over.

"I can only recommend you a closer attention to the Book," he replied.
"Search its pages yourself, dear lady, and treasures of gladness shall
be yours."

It was a nimble evasion and he could not resist a smile of
self-satisfaction, but to avoid further interrogation on Biblical
derivations he hastened to lead the conversation into safer alleys and
ones more relative to the object of his visit.

"I am informed in the village that you are the fortunate possessor of a
son."

"I have a son," Mrs. Barraclough admitted.

"A priceless gift, dear lady. I should like to shake him by the hand."

"Why?"

Really this woman was too trying and the directness of the question for
an instant deprived Mr. Bolt of his sense of character. Before he had
time to collect his thoughts he had rapped out the reply:

"Needn't jump down a man's throat like that."

His effort to recover and mask this piece of startled irritability with
a vague platitude did not deceive his audience in the smallest degree.
Doubt became conviction in Mrs. Barraclough's mind. She did not know
in what way this man was connected with her son's affairs but none the
less she was certain he represented a positive barrier between Anthony
and success. To denounce him as a spy might, however, do more harm
than good, accordingly she took up the bell and rang it, with the words:

"My son is away and has been away for several weeks, nor is there any
likelihood you will meet him when ultimately he returns." Then to the
glowering Jane who had answered the summons of the bell; "Kindly show
this gentleman out."

"Pray do not disturb yourself," said Mr. Bolt with dignity. "I can
find my own way."

And with asto