andth man.

"You wonder--?" queried Antony.

"I wonder how you'll like the life," said Doctor Hilary, though it was
not precisely what he had originally intended to say.

"'Tis England," said Antony briefly.

"Is that your sole reason for accepting the life?" asked Doctor Hilary
curiously.

Antony looked him full in the eyes.

"It is not," he replied smiling. And then he turned to the kettle, which
was on the point of boiling over.

Of course it was a rebuff. But it was a perfectly polite one. And
oddly--or, perhaps, not oddly--Doctor Hilary did not resent it in the
least. On the contrary, he respected the man who had administered it.

"There's no milk," said Antony presently, pouring tea into two cups. "Can
you be putting up with a lemon?"

"I like it," Doctor Hilary assured him.

After the meal they smoked together, making remarks now and again,
interspersed with little odd silences, which, however, appeared quite
natural and friendly. Josephus, who at the outset had viewed the entry of
the big man on the scene with something akin to disapproval, now walked
solemnly over to him, stood on his hind legs, and put his fore paws on
Doctor Hilary's knees.

"A token of approval," said Antony.

And then another of the odd little silences fell.

"You will report yourself to Golding at half-past seven on Monday
morning," said Doctor Hilary some quarter of an hour later, as he rose to
take his leave. "He lives at the lodge about five minutes' walk up the
road. You'll find the place all right. You will take all instructions as
to your work from him. If you should wish to see me personally at any
time regarding anything, you will usually find me at home in the
evening."

Antony touched his forehead in the most approved style.

"I thank you, sor," he responded.

Doctor Hilary smiled. "Well, good luck to you. It will be better--of
course, from now onward, we must remember that you are Michael Field,
under-gardener at the Hall."

"'Tis a good name," said Antony solemnly. "Sure, I'm downright obliged to
me godfathers and godmothers for giving me such a one."

Again Doctor Hilary smiled. "Oh, and by the way," he said, "how about
money."

Antony felt in his pockets. He produced two florins, a sixpence, and a
halfpenny. He looked at them lying in the palm of his hand. Then he
looked whimsically at the Doctor.

"I don't know whether the possession of these coins breaks the spirit of
the contract. I'm thinking 't