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manner he led the rest to the vehicles； in which they packed
themselves with some difficulty。 Agatha； who came last but one；
gave him threepence。
〃You have a noble 'art and an expressive hi； Miss；〃 he said；
apparently much moved。 〃Blessings on both！ Blessings on both！〃
He went back for Jane； who slipped on the wet grass and fell。 He
had to put forth his strength as he helped her to rise。 〃Hope you
ain't sopped up much of the rainfall； Miss；〃 he said。 〃You are a
fine young lady for your age。 Nigh on twelve stone； I should
think。〃
She reddened and hurried to the cab； where Agatha was。 But it was
full； and Jane； much against her will； had to get into the coach；
considerably diminishing the space left for Miss Wilson； to whom
Smilash had returned。
〃Now； dear lady；〃 he said； 〃take care you don't slip。 Come
along。〃
Miss Wilson； ignoring the invitation； took a shilling from her
purse。
〃No； lady；〃 said Smilash with a virtuous air。 〃I am an honest man
and have never seen the inside of a jail except four times； and
only twice for stealing。 Your youngest daughterher with the
expressive hihave paid me far beyond what is proper。〃
〃I have told you that these young ladies are not my daughters；〃
said Miss Wilson sharply。 〃Why do you not listen to what is said
to you？〃
〃Don't be too hard on a common man； lady；〃 said Smilash
submissively。 〃The young lady have just given me three
'arf…crowns。〃
〃Three half…crowns！〃 exclaimed Miss Wilson； angered at such
extravagance。
〃Bless her innocence； she don't know what is proper to give to a
low sort like me！ But I will not rob the young lady。 'Arf…a…crown
is no more nor is fair for the job； and arf…a…crown will I keep；
if agreeable to your noble ladyship。 But I give you back the five
bob in trust for her。 Have you ever noticed her expressive hi？〃
〃Nonsense； sir。 You had better keep the money now that you have
got it。〃
〃Wot！ Sell for five bob the high opinion your ladyship has of me！
No； dear lady； not likely。 My father's very last words to me
was〃
〃You said just now that you were a foundling；〃 said Fairholme。
〃What are we to believe？ Eh？〃
〃So I were； sir； but by mother's side alone。 Her ladyship will
please to take back the money； for keep it I will not。 I am of
the lower orders； and therefore not a man of my word； but when I
do stick to it； I stick like wax。〃
〃Take it；〃 said Fairholme to Miss Wilson。 〃Take it； of course。
Seven and sixpence is a ridiculous sum to give him for what he
has done。 It would only set him drinking。〃
〃His reverence says true； lady。 The one 'arfcrown will keep me
comfortably tight until Sunday morning； and more I do not
desire。〃
〃Just a little less of your tongue； my man；〃 said Fairholme；
taking the two coins from him and handing them to Miss Wilson；
who bade the clergymen good afternoon； and went to the coach
under the umbrella。
〃If your ladyship should want a handy man to do an odd job up at
the college I hope you will remember me；〃 Smilash said as they
went down the slope。
〃Oh； you know who I am； do you？〃 said Miss Wilson drily。
〃All the country knows you； Miss； and worships you。 I have few
equals as a coiner； and if you should require a medal struck to
give away for good behavior or the like； I think I could strike
one to your satisfaction。 And if your ladyship should want a
trifle of smuggled lace〃
〃You had better be careful or you will get into trouble； I
think；〃 said Miss Wilson sternly。 〃Tell him to drive on。〃
The vehicles started； and Smilash took the liberty of waving his
hat after them。 Then he returned to the chalet； left the umbrella
within； came out again； locked the door； put the key in his
pocket； and walked off through the rain across the hill without
taking the least notice of the astonished parsons。
In the meantime Miss Wilson； unable to contain her annoyance at
Agatha's extravagance； spoke of it to the girls who shared the
coach with her。 But Jane declared that Agatha only possessed
threepence in the world； and therefore could not possibly have
given the man thirty times that sum。 When they reached the
college； Agatha； confronted with Miss Wilson； opened her eyes in
wonder； and exclaimed； laughing： 〃I only gave him threepence。 He
has sent me a present of four and ninepence！〃
CHAPTER IV
Saturday at Alton College； nominally a half holiday； was really a
whole one。 Classes in gymnastics； dancing； elocution； and drawing
were held in the morning。 The afternoon was spent at lawn tennis；
to which lady guests resident in the neighborhood were allowed to
bring their husbands； brothers； and fathersMiss Wilson being
anxious to send her pupils forth into the world free from the
uncouth stiffness of schoolgirls unaccustomed to society。
Late in October came a Saturday which proved anything but a
holiday for Miss Wilson。 At half…past one； luncheon being over；
she went out of doors to a lawn that lay between the southern
side of the college and a shrubbery。 Here she found a group of
girls watching Agatha and Jane； who were dragging a roller over
the grass。 One of them； tossing a ball about with her racket；
happened to drive it into the shrubbery； whence； to the surprise
of the company； Smilash presently emerged； carrying the ball；
blinking； and proclaiming that； though a common man； he had his
feelings like another； and that his eye was neither a stick nor a
stone。 He was dressed as before； but his garments； soiled with
clay and lime； no longer looked new。
〃What brings you here； pray？〃 demanded Miss Wilson。
〃I was led into the belief that you sent for me； lady；〃 he
replied。 〃The baker's lad told me so as he passed my 'umble cot
this morning。 I thought he were incapable of deceit。〃
〃That is quite right； I did send for you。 But why did you not go
round to the servants' hall？〃
〃I am at present in search of it； lady。 I were looking for it
when this ball cotch me here 〃 （touching his eye）。 〃A cruel blow
on the hi' nat'rally spires its vision and expression and makes a
honest man look like a thief。〃
〃Agatha；〃 said Miss Wilson； 〃come here。〃
〃My dooty to you； Miss；〃 said Smilash； pulling his forelock。
〃This is the man from whom I had the five shillings； which he
said you had just given him。 Did you do so ？〃
〃Certainly not。 I only gave him threepence。〃
〃But I showed the money to your ladyship；〃 said Smilash； twisting
his hat agitatedly。 〃I gev it you。 Where would the like of me get
five shillings except by the bounty of the rich and noble？ If the
young lady thinks I hadn't ort to have kep' the tother 'arfcrown；
I would not object to its bein' stopped from my wages if I were
given a job of work here。 But〃
〃But it's nonsense；〃 said Agatha。 〃I never gave you three
half…crowns。〃
〃Perhaps you mout 'a' made a mistake。 Pence is summat similar to
'arf…crowns； and the day were very dark。〃
〃I couldn't have；〃 said Agatha。 〃Jane had my purse all the
earlier part of the week； Miss Wilson； and she can tell you that
there was only threepence in it。 You know that I get my money on
the first of every month。 It never lasts longer than a week。 The
idea of my having seven and sixpence on the sixteenth is
ridiculous。〃
〃But I put it to you； Miss； ain't it twice as ridiculous for me；
a poor laborer； to give up money wot I never got？〃
Vague alarm crept upon Agatha as the testimony of her senses was
contradicted。 〃All I know is；〃 she protested； 〃that I did not
give it to you； so my pennies must have turned into half…crowns
in your pocket。〃
〃Mebbe so；〃 said Smilash gravely。 〃I've heard； and I know it for
a fact； that money grows in the pockets of the rich。 Why not in
the pockets of the poor as well？ Why should you be su'prised at
wot 'appens every day？〃
〃Had you any money of your own about you at the time？〃
〃Where could the like of me get money？asking pardon for making
so bold as to catechise your ladyship。〃
〃I don't know where you could get it；〃 said Miss Wilson testily；
〃I ask you； had you any？〃
〃Well； lady； I disremember。 I will not impose upon you。 I
disremember。〃
〃Then you've made a mistake；〃 said Miss Wilson； handing him back
his money。 〃Here。 If it is not yours； it is not ours； so you had
better keep it。〃
〃Keep it！ Oh； lady； but this is the heighth of nobility！ And what
shall I do to earn your bounty； lady？〃
〃It is not my bounty： I give it to you because it does not belong
to me； and； I suppose； must belong to you。 You seem to be a very
simple man。〃
〃I thank your ladyship； I hope I am。 Respecting the day's work；
now； lady； was you thinking of employing a poor man at all？〃
〃No； thank you； I have no occasion for your services。 I have also
to give you the shilling I promised you for getting the cabs。
Here it is。〃
〃Another shillin'！〃 cried Smilash； stupefied。
〃Yes；〃 said Miss Wilson； beginning to feel very angry。 〃Let me
hear no more about it； please。 Don't you understand that you have
earned it？〃
〃I am a common man； and understand next to nothing；〃 he replied
reverently。 〃But if your ladyship would give me a day's work to
keep me goin'； I could put up all this money in a little wooden
savings bank I have at home； and keep it to spend when sickness