Part 22 (1/2)

”No, my dear,” said the vicar ”You could not tell o on was a voice, and I could hardly catechize him on that

Besides, it reed his wife, though her tone was skeptical ”I have no objections to that But while he is at work ”

”Aord!” said Tony, for the sake of saying so ”I wonder ork is like--real continuous work, I mean”

”We can offer you plenty,” said the vicar cheerfully ”The laants cutting You could trie, too, and----”

”No thanks,” said Tony with a shudder ”Any other tilad, but just now I' But don't you think that an idle life? Would not work--literary work, for exa in,” said Tony wearily ”Now, a hearty young spark like s----”

The spark flickered into a feeble fla, Mr Wild,” said the vicar, taking his pipe out ”Work is the best thing You'd realize it if you tried it Of course, now you're on a holiday----”

”_As I' sche his?”

Robert serate a little

But--but----”

Mrs Peters disliked the cynical frivolity Tony i us the nature of some of these arduous duties?” she asked coldly

”Oh, there's a gay lot,” said Tony, reflecting ”I've had to order lunch, for exaanize walksand deal the hands at piquet in the eveningsandby jove, yes! I promised to help him telephone to-day, if you wouldn't mind?”

”Not a bit,” said the vicar, the sole possessor of a telephone in Shereling He rose and stretched hi now”

But Robert re decidedly uneasy ”No, no!” he said with a frightenedIt will keep for a day or two There is really no necessity” He began to stammer and blush, aware of the eye of Mrs Peters

”You pro to the lady he said, ”Coy now! Here as keepson earth should prevent hiht,” interrupted Robert, in terror of what Tony would say next

”Co! Where is the telephone, Mr Peters?”

”In the dining-roo ”I'll show you the way”

They went into the house, leaving Mrs Peters on the lawn, deeply stirred ”That man _has_ a past,” she deterht to ask Charles I wonder if it would be right to And they are strangersone never knows” She thought sternly for a ot up, resolution in her countenance ”It's a duty,” she murmured--”a positive duty And Charles is so weak”

Theto listen at the door

CHAPTER XVIII

TONY AT WORK AND AT PLAY

If the telephone had been in the vicar's study Mrs Peters ht have watched in vain; for to acquire accurate inforh a keyhole needs practise or unusually keen ears But the vicar wanted perfect quiet to prepare his serreed that the instru-room This suited Mrs Peters admirably, for there was a du on the other side of the hatch (which she raised with caution a couple of inches) she could hear all that passed, secure in the reflection that a screen concealed the hatch and butler's tray This is what she heard as soon as the vicar had left the room

”Mr Wild, I _told_ you that I would rather not----”

”Duty, Bangs, duty! Remember that! You've allowed your unhappy wife to ht it better not to write just yet, in case----”