Berry and Co.

h?" said Daphne, cons

a profou

r turned

?" she said. "B

pardon," sai

u're coming,"

irst time I've worn them, and I'm not

" said his wife. "Yo

y gr

evism," he said. "Is

said Daphne, "in

were all taking our ease in the sunshine upon the terrace. It was the first

e could see, not

h of crimson, seemingly spilled upon the green turf, and there the close box hedge that walled away the rose-garden. Beyond the sunk fence a gap showed an acre or so of Bull's Mead-a great deep meadow, and in it two horses beneath a chestnut tree, their long tails a-swish, sleepily nosing each othe

lock chimed

eturned to

u comin

said I.

up and sta

service this morning. Besides, they'

Vicar's face when h

said Jonah, looking up from the

at doesn't matter. I sent him

say?" demand

coming to Church to-morrow, and you've got to come bac

Profusely. To walk half a mile in this

can't hurry with this." He tapped his short leg affec

ter, rising. "Is ten-mi

h no

pay. Literally. I shall take the plate round, and from you

and bore him protesting into

fter the car while we'

Jonah. "Besides, we can always disconnect the north-east trunnio

." With a yawn I rose to my feet. "And now

Jonah, picking up

ed into

lder's, her touring body was painted silver-grey, while her bonnet was of polished aluminium. Fitted with every conceivable accessor

en as we slid past the lodge

at rest by the dusty hedgerow, and a slight dark girl in fresh blue and white standi

aphne and Jill. "

a standstill, as my lad

e panted. "I never knew you

e, and introduced Berry and me. Jonah, it app

hair down then,"

Miss Deriot. "Why didn't you come along ten minu

riving away from c

oulder, and we're out of embrocation;

agerly, preparing to leave the car

aid Daphne, d

g she has ano

ou mending it on

u," said Miss Deriot,

he'd be the slightest use to you, I'd send him; but

knight, a simple starlit knight, a Quix

clutch. "And come over this afternoon, Agat

o," cri

said Miss Der

ich-gate in the shade of sweet-smelling limes, that made

ds, was leaning lazily against the grey wall, taking his ease. As we drew abreast of him, he stood to

're all right, W

you,

ing to church?

nd I've 'ad my share o' church pa

l lau

" said I, "we want some one

it glad

a pretty piece of

r," said Will, v

d back to see our sentinel walking about his char

singing

ydell" in the Vicar's handwriting. When Berry had read it he p

r M

essons. I think we should all like it if you wou

ery sin

n B

ter named the appointed

ctern, found his places and cast his eye over the text. Before

and refreshing. Mustiness was clean gone, swept from her frequent haunts by the sweet breath of Nature. The "dim, religious light" of Milton's ordering was this day displaced by Summer's honest smile, simpler maybe, but no les

ling coast ten miles away, the old "three-decker" with its dull crimson cushions and the fringed cloths that hung so stiffly. A shaft of sunlight beat full on an old black h

though there were many strange faces, it was pleasant here and there to recognize one we had

stared at one another, panic-stricken. Then with one impulse we all started instinctively to our feet. As I left the pew I heard Daphne whisper, "Hsh! We can't all--" and she a

grey hat, scudding up the straight white road, while in her wake tore a gesticulating trooper, shouting

eard a horn sounded behind me, and I mechanically stepped to one side. Fi

heel. As I did so, a burst of music signifie

er?" cried Miss Deri

nched the Roll

t in. Which wa

d," said I, op

glance over my shoulder, to see four figures that I knew standing without the lich-g

d, sir! I can see t

wayside oak, Will Noggin was pointing a

ff hind tire burst. Miss Deriot brought the car to the s

said, "has j

r and stepped do

hen we least want i

st already, and I only b

his

aven knows how far you are from your home. This comes of

panion

elf," she said, "but

d out m

it to Bloodstock and try and get the po

e for the rest of the day." She pointed to the barn. "Help me to

making urgent representations to the owner of the barn. To our relief the latter proved sympathet

Miss Deriot, "ho

in charge. I suppose he left her to get a drink or something. Th

her again. Look at that meadow-sweet. Isn'

d once. It was hung, too

. "It's a shame to waste talent like that. Isn

wear stockings in

lanced at her

eflection?"

ok my

there's a place for everyt

th la

n. "I couldn't bear to see you so

ou've a nice kind hea

on it," said

ss danced in her eyes, energy leapt from her carriage. Had she been haughty, you would have labelled her "Diana," and have done with it; but her eyes were g

s Deriot. "There's a path that'll bring us out oppos

ve been born

rlong away. "The trees hide the house. But we left when I was seven,

was padlocked. I lo

aces, and gaze Into the middle d

ung back her h

u gave me a le

oot in my hand she was up and over

and a little practice, we should do wonders. On non-matinée days I might even lift you wit

throom," said Agatha. "Witho

way sheer, so that at this point a bluff formed one high wall of the sunken road for which we were making. The Thatcher, I remembered, stood immediately opposite to the rough grass-grown step

fronted the inn the Rolls was

instant, and asking me what was the matter. Then she saw, a

was shut, and there

to discretion. The great thing was to recover the car. I had but a slip of a girl with me, the spot was a lonely one, an

ed to

raight to the police-station. I'll pick up some po

shook her

th you," she s

my d

atively. "But we're all like that. Mules aren't in it

I, and with that I began to descend the rou

of yielding cloth, and I came to rest six feet from the road at the expense of a pre-War coat, which had caught the corner of one of the unplaned risers. All had been so still, that in that hollow

t?" whispered a s

anding with clasped hands, heaved a sigh of

nto the sandy road and st

tock, the car present

n, Miss Deriot slipped in front of the bonnet and round to the near side. She was opening

t a second

s the car slid into the road a man in a grey hat came tearing out of the inn's courtyard, waving his arms and yel

on the seat by my side, kept me informed of

h, he's mad. He's thrown his hat on the ground. O-o-o, Boy, he's trying to kick one of th

gatha turned left about and

w my Christian n

I've forgotten your other, and I can't kee

se, A

say, you've torn y

it was in two

ha. "Never mind. Bare backs are still fashionable. An

eve it," I added, "but I can tell from the f

After all, a car's

are of Bloodstock. The police station sto

etween his lips was a penholder, and he held a telephone receiver to his left ear. In an adjoining room the bell of another telephone was ringing violent

o state my business, but before I had spoken two sentences

t other telephone goin' like mad, an' the Chief Constable's lef' his bull-dawg tied up there, an' 'e won't let me within six foot of it." He turned to blare into the mouthpiece. "'Ullo! 'Oo are you? 'Oo are you? Wot! Oh, I can't bear it. 'E

t to turn the car, but drove on and presently out

ore leaving Bloodstock, to announce my recovery of the car; but I

ht of the colt and the embrocation, to say nothing of my lady's t

on, and then I'll take you home. Then I can run your chauffeur back to t

st stay to lunch. You can telephone to White Ladies from there. And afterwards I'll go back with you-I was to come over

f the forest itself, and thither we came without incident, jus

to my wants. My coat was given to a maid to be roughly stitched, and when I appeared at luncheon it was in a jacket belonging to my host. Our story was told and ret

ephoned to White Ladies, but the servant sent to make the connec

at one end and that station sergeant at the

n the car. On the back seat sat the Deriots' ch

he farmer, authorized him to suffer the chauffeur to remove the two-seater, and dischar

, as the Rolls sailed up a treacherously steep

seen her again. Shall I give you a st

mean that?" sa

ed lips and the sparkle of her gay brown eyes. By way of replying I b

edly, as she let in the clutch. "I've always wa

"I watched you in the two-seat

k you

here. There used to be a wasps' nest in that bank, but

n't colle

t about a Sealyham to sleep on

one," sa

our hair all about your eyes, and smile at him,

But you're wron

never u

sh to goodness I c

y beautiful tress caressing your left shoulder. And I think you ought to know that the wind is ki

a supreme effor

rtainly, "I shall drive st

ily." Here we passed the horse-pond. "You know you'll never be able to look fierce so long as you ha

turned up a by-road, and stopped.

th is she do

a glowing f

the horse-pon

on her arm a

e one directly you get to White Ladies. I'll tur

will you prom

thfu

s and sit like a g

man. Then I could stand on the petrol

Instantly Agatha leaned towa

caressing tone. "Now he

n't colle

uth, her little white teeth would have

album," she said slowly. "Ho

we were back in

ight to the stables, and we left the c

on't tell the others that we've found her just yet,

ll out looking for

e's sure to be

lawn. By her side was Jill, seated upon a cushion, one little foot tucked under her, nursing the other's instep with

swept wide to the foot of the broad grey steps. There stood a handsome

d, and I recoiled as from a spectre.

seen it too. It'll go away in a mom

's real!" c

aking from a great distance. "And I'll bet you never expected t

e truth," said

ister's side. Somebody-Jill, I fancy-led me to the rug and persuaded me to sit down. Mechanic

, "but I didn't think it'd take you like this.

on't und

ed out and ran to his help. The man seemed to be having a fit, and Will was just loosening his collar, when he heard the engine start and saw the Rolls moving. He left the chap in the road and ra

on his motor-bike. He'd come to bring us a can of petrol,

five miles. But, of course, they might turn off. So I thought the rest of us had better follow and search the by-roads for all we were

yet?" said I,

said Jonah,

t he know s

the Bloodstock road for the second time at Dew Thicket, and at the

ndon

Fitch after you and drove her home. Fitch had a burst

t all?"

s enough,

ng to my feet. "Kindly acc

mean, Boy?

d I. "Come

g solemnly by my side. As we turned unde

lessly, "we, too, have

e I had left her, waiting t

started violently and smothered an exclamation. Jill p

s a long

I turned

er's day. Let me suggest that you return your ill-gotten gains to the foot of the hill beyond Dew Thicket without delay. As

orward, touc

hey're as like as two pins." He pointed to

"I admit they're exactly

hook hi

er, sir, to say nothing

d at hi

," I said

he front's ours. I'm afraid you

d. This lay but a hundred odd yards away on the farther side of the brown stream by which the lawn was edged. For the length of a cricket pitch the hedgerow bounding the highway was vis

a small touring car. Even as we looked, a savage gesture in our direction suggested that our friend was identifying the Rolls by our side as stolen property for the benefi

turned round and was being driven

uietly. "Go and sit down on the

ing voice, "and that's his accomplice." He po

turned and looked him up and down. "Were y

he reply. "But that's my car, and

a time. My n

f Constable o

r. I was under the impre

the outskirts of Bloodstock only a few hours ago. You're a receiver, sir, a common--" He checked himself

st?" said Jonah. "I mean, I don't want to int

oking man, generously designed and expensively over-dressed. For a moment I thought he was going to strik

ed behind her as though to come to her other side. The ne

the number-plates, have you?" he yelled. "Th

ut looking at the dash, tell me your chas

me parrot-wise from the lips

ou," sai

lls, tore open the bonnet, an

charged with expectancy

His eyes were bulging and his face redder than ev

my car," said

t "a mistake," he started to lurch towards the police car. As the officers

tood still where they were. "My friends and I have bee

able swallowed

he said thickly.

you believed that

d

hy

xactly

t be some

ll. If mine were here, I'd

ggest that I shouldn

d

istake on my part

tain

My car was stolen and sought for. Your car was found. If you will acco

his face transfigured wi

to say--

. "I feel sure that the ladie

inishing tea, that a cry from Jill made us all

-looking bicycle. His clothes were thick with dust, his collar was like a piece

arted to

ly allowed five falls, and I've used four of them." With a final effort he reached the edge of the lawn and laid the bicycle gently on its side. "'How we brought the good news from Aix to Ghent,'" he continued. "Yes, I see th

that you had falle

waited for the laughter to subside. "But she doesn't turn easily. If my blood counts, there are at least three corners in the County that are for ever England. A

execute his commands. Berry proc

n the box." He turned to Daphne. "Since I left you this morning, woman, I have walked with Death. Oh, more than o

y're called push-bikes, but that's misleading. Lots

tire was windless. In my endeavours to find the chain I lost myself. That reminds me. I must put an advertisement in The Times to the effect that any one returning a bicycle-chain to White Ladies will be assaulted. I have no desire to be reminded of to-day. If anyb

approach of Jill, bearing a tankard in one han

s it?"

ndy-

long draught. "And yet I don't know. I've got an old pair

hriek from Ag

urch?" said Daphne, con

y ch

I regar

can return the curate his bicycle at the

urs ago I registered a vow. I shall d

ear it,"

very careful when you take off my boots. They're very full of foot this evening." He sank back and closed his eye

said hi

h, and heard Jonah find it."

hereon di

he coul

fat-head yell

imself,