a sheep. His manner was utterly prosaic, and up to the
last she thought he had not understood her. "But it's money we offer
you," she informed him, and then darted back to the study, believing
for one terrible moment that he had picked up the blank cheque. When she
returned to the hall he had gone. He was walking down the road rather
quickly. At the corner he cleared his throat, spat into the gutter, and
disappeared.

"There's an odd finish," she thought. She was puzzled, and determined to
recast the interview a little when she related it to Rickie. She had
not succeeded, for the paper was still unsigned. But she had so cowed
Stephen that he would probably rest content with his two hundred a-year,
and never come troubling them again. Clever management, for one knew
him to be rapacious: she had heard tales of him lending to the poor
and exacting repayment to the uttermost farthing. He had also stolen at
school. Moderately triumphant, she hurried into the side-garden: she had
just remembered Ansell: she, not Rickie, had received his card.

"Oh, Mr. Ansell!" she exclaimed, awaking him from some day-dream.
"Haven't either Rickie or Herbert been out to you? Now, do come into
dinner, to show you aren't offended. You will find all of us assembled
in the boys' dining-hall."

To her annoyance he accepted.

"That is, if the Jacksons are not expecting you."

The Jacksons did not matter. If he might brush his clothes and bathe his
lip, he would like to come.

"Oh, what has happened to you? And oh, my pretty lobelias!"

He replied, "A momentary contact with reality," and she, who did not
look for sense in his remarks, hurried away to the dining-hall to
announce him.

The dining-hall was not unlike the preparation room. There was the
same parquet floor, and dado of shiny pitchpine. On its walls also
were imperial portraits, and over the harmonium to which they sang the
evening hymns was spread the Union Jack. Sunday dinner, the most pompous
meal of the week, was in progress. Her brother sat at the head of the
high table, her husband at the head of the second. To each he gave a
reassuring nod and went to her own seat, which was among the junior
boys. The beef was being carried out; she stopped it. "Mr. Ansell
is coming," she called. "Herbert there is more room by you; sit up
straight, boys." The boys sat up straight, and a respectful hush spread
over the room.

"Here he is!" called Rickie cheerfully, taking his cue from hi