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o the shelter of the hedge his foot seemed aflame。 The only reason why the blister on his left heel did not at this juncture attract his entire attention was that he had bee aware that there was another of equal proportions forming on his right heel。
Percy had stopped and sought cover in the hedge because； as he rounded the bend in the road； he perceived； before he had time to check his gallop； that Maud had also stopped。 She was standing in the middle of the road； looking over her shoulder； not ten yards away。 Had she seen him？ It was a point that time alone could solve。 No！ She walked on again。 She had not seen him。 Lord Belpher； by means of a notable triumph of mind over matter； forgot the blisters and hurried after her。
They had now reached that point in the road where three choices offer themselves to the wayfarer。 By going straight on he may win through to the village of Moresby…in…the…Vale； a charming little place with a Norman church； by turning to the left he may visit the equally seductive hamlet of Little Weeting； by turning to the right off the main road and going down a leafy lane he may find himself at the door of Platt's farm。 When Maud； reaching the cross…roads； suddenly swung down the one to the left； Lord Belpher was for the moment pletely baffled。 Reason reasserted its way the next minute； telling him that this was but a ruse。 Whether or no she had caught sight of him； there was no doubt that Maud intended to shake off any possible pursuit by taking this speciously innocent turning and making a detour。 She could have no possible motive in going to Little Weeting。 He had never been to Little Weeting in his life； and there was no reason to suppose that Maud had either。
The sign…post informed hima statement strenuously denied by the twin…blistersthat the distance to Little Weeting was one and a half miles。 Lord Belpher's view of it was that it was nearer fifty。 He dragged himself along wearily。 It was simpler now to keep Maud in sight； for the road ran straight： but； there being a catch in everything in this world； the process was also messier。 In order to avoid being seen； it was necessary for Percy to leave the road and tramp along in the deep ditch which ran parallel to it。 There is nothing half…hearted about these ditches which acpany English country roads。 They know they are intended to be ditches； not mere furrows； and they behave as such。 The one that sheltered Lord Belpher was so deep that only his head and neck protruded above the level of the road； and so dirty that a bare twenty yards of travel was sufficient to coat him with mud。 Rain； once fallen； is reluctant to leave the English ditch。 It nestles inside it for weeks； forming a rich； oatmeal…like substance which has to be stirred to be believed。 Percy stirred it。 He churned it。 He ploughed and sloshed through it。 The mud stuck to him like a brother。
Nevertheless； being a determined young man； he did not give in。 Once he lost a shoe； but a little searching recovered that。 On another occasion； a passing dog； seeing things going on in the ditch which in his opinion should not have been going onhe was a high…strung dog； unused to ing upon heads moving along the road without bodies attachedacpanied Percy for over a quarter of a mile； causing him exquisite disfort by making sudden runs at his face。 A well…aimed stone settled this little misunderstanding； and Percy proceeded on his journey alone。 He had Maud well in view when； to his surprise she left the road and turned into the gate of a house which stood not far from the church。
Lord Belpher regained the road； and remained there； a puzzled man。 A dreadful thought came to him that he might have had all this trouble and anguish for no reason。 This house bore the unmistakable stamp of a vicarage。 Maud could have no reason that was not innocent for going there。 Had he gone through all this； merely to see his sister paying a visit to a clergyman？ Too late it occurred to him that she might quite easily be on visiting terms with the clergy of Little Weeting。 He had forgotten that he had been away at Oxford for many weeks； a period of time in which Maud； finding life in the country weigh upon her； might easily have interested herself charitably in the life of this village。 He paused irresolutely。 He was baffled。
Maud； meanwhile； had rung the bell。 Ever since； looking over her shoulder； she had perceived her brother Percy dodging about in the background； her active young mind had been busying itself with schemes for throwing him off the trail。 She must see George that morning。 She could not wait another day before establishing munication between herself and Geoffrey。 But it was not till she reached Little Weeting that there occurred to her any plan that promised success。
A trim maid opened the door。
〃Is the vicar in？〃
〃No； miss。 He went out half an hour back。〃
Maud was as baffled for the moment as her brother Percy； now leaning against the vicarage wall in a state of advanced exhaustion。
〃Oh； dear！〃 she said。
The maid was sympathetic。
〃Mr。 Ferguson； the curate； miss； he's here； if he would do。〃
Maud brightened。
〃He would do splendidly。 Will you ask him if I can see him for a moment？〃
〃Very well； miss。 What name； please？〃
〃He won't know my name。 Will you please tell him that a lady wishes to see him？〃
〃Yes； miss。 Won't you step in？〃
The front door closed behind Maud。 She followed the maid into the drawing…room。 Presently a young small curate entered。 He had a willing； benevolent face。 He looked alert and helpful。
〃You wished to see me？〃
〃I am so sorry to trouble you；〃 said Maud； rocking the young man in his tracks with a smile of dazzling brilliancy（〃No trouble； I assure you；〃 said the curate dizzily）〃but there is a man following me！〃
The curate clicked his tongue indignantly。
〃A rough sort of a tramp kind of man。 He has been following me for miles； and I'm frightened。〃
〃Brute！〃
〃I think he's outside now。 I can't think what he wants。 Would youwould you mind being kind enough to go and send him away？〃
The eyes that had settled George's fate for all eternity flashed upon the curate； who blinked。 He squared his shoulders and drew himself up。 He was perfectly willing to die for her。
〃If you will wait here；〃 he said； 〃I will go and send him about his business。 It is disgraceful that the public highways should be rendered unsafe in this manner。〃
〃Thank you ever so much；〃 said Maud gratefully。 〃I can't help thinking the poor fellow may be a little crazy。 It seems so odd of him to follow me all that way。 Walking in the ditch too！〃
〃Walking in the ditch！〃
〃Yes。 He walked most of the way in the ditch at the side of the road。 He seemed to prefer it。 I can't think why。〃
Lord Belpher； leaning against the wall and trying to decide whether his right or left foot hurt him the more excruciatingly； became aware that a curate was standing before him； regarding him through a pair of gold…rimmed pince…nez with a disapproving and hostile expression。 Lord Belpher returned his gaze。 Neither was favourably impressed by the other。 Percy thought he had seen nicer…looking curates； and the curate thought he had seen more prepossessing tramps。
〃e； e！〃 said the curate。 〃This won't do； my man！〃 A few hours earlier Lord Belpher had been startled when addressed by George as 〃sir〃。 To be called 〃my man〃 took his breath away pletely。
The gift of seeing ourselves as others see us is； as the poet indicates； vouchsafed to few men。 Lord Belpher； not being one of these fortunates； had not the slightest conception how intensely revolting his personal appearance was at that moment。 The red…rimmed eyes； the growth of stubble on the cheeks； and the thick coating of mud which had resulted from his rambles in the ditch bined to render him a horrifying object。
〃How dare you follow that young lady？ I've a good mind to give you in charge！〃
Percy was outraged。
〃I'm her brother！〃 He was about to substantiate the statement by giving his name； but stopped himself。 He had had enough of letting his name e out on occasions like the present。 When the policeman had arrested him in the Haymarket； his first act had been to thunder his identity at the man： and the policeman； without saying in so many words that he disbelieved him； had hinted scepticism by replying that he himself was the king of Brixton。 〃I'm her brother！〃 he repeated thickly。
The curate's disapproval deepened。 In a sense； we are all brothers； but that did not prevent him from considering that this mud…stained derelict had made an impudent and abominable mis…statement of fact。 Not unnaturally he came to the conclusion that he had to do with a victim of the Demon Rum。
〃You ought to be ashamed of yourself；〃 he said severely。 〃Sad piece of human wreckage as you are； you speak like an educated man。 Have you no self…respect？ Do you never search your heart and shudder at the horrible degradation which you have brought on yourself by sheer weakness of will？〃
He raise his voice。 The subject of Temperance was one very near to the curate's heart。 The vicar himself had plimented him only yesterday on the good his sermons against the drink evil were doing in the village； and the landlord of the Thre