r rattled open and in walked a totally unexpected visitor--Sir
Harry Vyell.

"Good evening! I was riding by and saw your light in the windows
dancing up and down. I thought I would hitch up the mare and drop in
for a chat. But go on with your work."

Taffy wondered what had brought him so far from his home at that time
of night, but asked no questions. And Sir Harry placed a hassock on
one of the belfry steps, and taking his seat, watched for a while in
silence. He wore his long riding-boots and an overcoat with the
collar turned up about a neckcloth less nattily folded than usual.

"I wish," he said at length, "that my boy George was clever like you.
You were great friends once--you remember Plymouth, hey? But I dare
say you've not seen much of each other lately."

Taffy shook his head.

"George is a bit wild. Oxford might have done something for him;
made a man of him, I mean. But he wouldn't go. I believe in wild
oats to a certain extent. I have told him from the first he must
look after himself and decide for himself. That's my theory.
It makes a youngster self-reliant. He goes and comes as he likes.
If he comes home late from hunting I ask no questions; I don't wait
dinner. Don't you agree with me?"

"I don't know," Taffy answered, wondering why he should be consulted.

"Self-reliance is what a man wants."

"Couldn't he have learnt that at school?"

Sir Harry fidgeted with the riding-crop in his hands. "Well, you
see, he's an only son--I dare say it was selfish of me. You don't
mind my talking about George?"

Taffy laughed. "I like it. But--"

Sir Harry laughed too, in an embarrassed way. "But you don't suppose
I rode over from Carwithiel for that? Well, well! The fact is--one
gets foolish as one grows old--George went out hunting this morning,
and didn't turn up for dinner. I kept to my rule and dined alone.
Nine o'clock came; half-past; no George. At ten Hoskins locked up as
usual, and off I went to bed. But I couldn't sleep. After a while
it struck me that he might be sleeping here over at Tredinnis; that
is, if no accident had happened. No sleep for me until I made sure;
so I jumped out, dressed, slipped down to the stables, saddled the
mare and rode over. I left the mare by Tredinnis great gates and
crept down to Moyle's stables like a housebreaker, looked in through
the window, and sure enough there was George's grey in the loose box
to the right. So George is sleeping