ods he had purchased, had them placed in a taxi, and
drove to Paddington.

He was so ridiculously glad to see the station again that the
ordinarily provoking discovery that he had lost the return half of his
ticket but twitched the hem of his temper. With a rueful smile he
determined to deduct the price of his carelessness from his next week's
wages.

The fact that he had broken no bread since breakfast never occurred to
him. His one idea was to get back to Gramarye. Not that the dreaded
visit had proved exacting. Indeed, as was to be expected, London had
roared as gently as any sucking dove. It was with no true sense of
relief that he watched the bustling platforms recede. Them and their
fellows, the streets, he bore no grudge. Hideously crowded as they
were, he felt almost kindly disposed towards them. He could afford to
be magnanimous. He was on his way back. An hour or so, and he would
stand once more under the grateful shadow of his sanctuary....

He had no newspaper, nor any need of one. The flitting landscape, the
regular pounding of the wheels were declaring tidings precious beyond
price. A hundred times he wished the compartment empty save for
himself, that he might have exulted openly. As it was, he was reduced
to hugging himself surreptitiously, to staring upon the window and
winking at his elusive reflection, which he could dimly focus in the
stout pane. After a while he became pitiful of his fellow-travellers.
As like as not, poor devils, they thought they were well off. And here
beside them sat one who was bound for Gramarye. Anthony hugged himself
anew. Then another station flashed by, before his feverish eyes could
read the name, to set him twittering with speculation....

By the time the train steamed into Chipping Norton, the ex-officer was
trembling all over.

To Patch, who had spent the day in the wood-shed, his master's return
to the cottage was the signal for an undisguised explosion of ecstasy.
Herein, as the noise of the roan's hoofs died away, he was unexpectedly
joined by Anthony, and for a long two minutes the two wallowed in a
pure paroxysm of glee.

It is to be noted, however, that while the terrier presently dispatched
a generous supper with every indication of relish, his master left his
untasted. Of the cold well-water the latter was undeniably glad,
drinking great draughts and presently drawing more and washing
luxuriously. Then he drew more and drank again, but