, sir."

"How has it happened now?" The questions came short, incisive.

The man flushed.

"How has it happened now?" repeated Nicholas distinctly.

"I lent a bit, sir."

"To whom?"

"Widow Thisby. She's an old woman, sir."

"Tell me the whole story," said Nicholas curtly.

Again the flush rose to the man's face.

"Her son got into a bit of trouble, sir. It was a matter of a sovereign
or going to gaol. He's only a youngster, and the prison smell sticks.
Trust folk for nosing it out. He's got a chance now, and will be sending
his mother a trifle presently."

"Then I suppose she'll repay you?"

Job fidgeted with his cap.

"Well, sir, I don't suppose it'll be more'n a trifle he'll send; and
she's got her work cut out to make both ends meet."

"Then I suppose you _gave_ her the money?"

Job shifted his feet uneasily.

"How did you intend to raise the money due for your rent, then?" demanded
Nicholas less curtly.

Job left off fidgeting. He felt on safer ground here.

"It just meant a bit extra saved from each week," he said eagerly. "You
can do it if you've time. Boiling water poured into the morning teapot
for evenings, and knock off your bit of bacon, and--well, there's lots of
ways, sir, and women is wonderful folk for managing, the best ones. Where
it's thought and trouble they'll do it, and they'd be using strength too
if they'd got it, but some of them hasn't."

"Hmm," said Nicholas. He put up his hand to his mouth. "So you _gave_
money you knew would never be repaid, knowing, too, that it meant
possible homelessness."

"You'd have done it yourself if you'd been in my place," said the man
bluntly.

"Should I?" said Nicholas half ironically. "I very much doubt it. Also
what right had you to gamble with your wife's happiness? You knew the
risk you ran. You knew the--er, the rule regarding the rents. Job
Grantley, you were a fool."

Again the colour rushed to the man's face.

"May be, sir. I'll allow it sounds foolishness, but--oh Lord, sir,
where's the use o' back-thinking now. I reckon you'd never do a hand's
turn for nobody if you spent your time looking backward and forrard at
your jobs." He stopped, his chin quivering.

"Job Grantley, you were a fool." Nicholas repeated the words with even
deliberation.

The man moved silently towards the window. There was a clumsy dignity
about his figure.

"Stop," said Nicholas. "Job Grantley, you _are_ a fool."

The man turned round.

"Go to