Part 30 (1/2)
”Absurd!” Winifred had replied ”I can not explain all now, but h a registry office, and only caht you discovered her I have questioned her, and though I believe your explanation of her presence, it is best for us all that she should not stay--Oh, I have taken care that she shall not suffer financially--I aroundless as my sister's ofan inquiry into so flie Noe knohere we are
If you will be pleased to prolong your stay, I shall be glad Perhaps you will learn to believe in me at last” He did not believe her in the least, but the knowledge that he was no longer there on false pretenses was no sht, approaching, ”let us go and look at our prisoner Have you seen hi?”
”Not since breakfast,” said Lionel, rising ”What is his job to-day?”
”Digging and wheeling,” answered Miss Arkwright with a smile ”I am told that he shapes well”
They walked round the back of the house, and presently came upon a second lawn Across this was laid a narrow footway of planks As they approached a figure was seen wheeling a sure came to the end of the causeway, upset his load with a professional side-twist, and then wiped his brow ”I believe that is always done,” he said apologetically to the lady, who had halted with her cavalier: ”one picks up a wrinkle here and there
Your gardener, for instance, showedht ahead”
”Do you feel tired?” asked Miss Arkwright critically: there was no sympathy in her tone
”The masses are used to that,” answered Tony ”In ti the maximum of ith the minimum of effort No, I can't say I a on the whole”
”You're lance falling on a scarred patch
”Ah! that was in the apprentice stage,” said Tony airily ”The barrow ran off the plank, and this narroheel cuts Of course I am always open to learn, and if you----”
”Mr Mortiht reize For apardon, ettin' back to ht to where a mound of soil awaited his efforts He was soon back, however, and another load of soil was deposited dexterously upon the growing bed
”You're still obstinate,” said the lady, s----?” He paused, shovel in hand
”That you won't give any account of yourself”
”Why should I?” asked Tony innocently ”I aain with grace, despite his costume and thespecial to do I a the rude health of youth----”
”But you have to _work_!” Lionel re from your hands I don't think you've done much of that in your life”
Tony waved one of the despised hands
”It is a popular error to speak ofclasses' There is such a thing as brain-work--no! I don't press the point As a matter of fact, I ae Perhaps, when I regain my freedom, I shall then take up some sort of work as a hobby”
”You can be free as soon as you like,” said Miss Arkwright carelessly
”Ah! but at a price! You want the secret of ic story when you tellof yours Meanwhile I am quite content to labor here on parole It is true that I ah the wall to pass the time of day (is that the local phrase?) with the outside world But until I know htful tyrant I have ever ht to think yourself lucky,” said Lionel, ”that you're not cooling your heels in jail”
”By all accounts,” said Tony blandly, ”I ht retort with a _tu quoque_”