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Updated: June 8, 2025
Before the sound of the cart had died away she had to wipe moisture from her eyes, and at the moment when she was doing so Mr. Ruddiman came into the parlour. 'Has Mr. Fouracres gone? asked the guest, with embarrassment. 'Just gone, sir, replied the young woman, half turned away, and nervously fingering her chin. 'I shouldn't trouble about it if I were you, Miss Fouracres, said Mr.
All sorts of ingenious little imposts were constantly occurring to him, and his mouth watered with delight at the sound of millions which might thus be added to the national wealth. But to Mr. Fouracres such matters seemed trivial.
Well, one July afternoon, when the summer vacation drew near, the under-master perspired up the sunny road with another object than that of refreshing himself at the familiar little inn. He entered by the ivied porch, and within, as usual, found Miss Fouracres, who sat behind the bar sewing.
Do you think Had it not been dark Mr. Ruddiman would hardly have ventured to make the suggestion which fell from him in a whisper. Had it not been dark Miss Fouracres would assuredly have hesitated much longer before giving her definite reply.
'Of course you'll do as you like, father, replied Miss Fouracres, with her usual deliberation, and quite good-humouredly, 'but I think you're going on a fool's errand, and that I tell you plain. If you'd just forget all about the Prince, and settle down quiet at the Pig and Whistle, it 'ud be a good deal better for you. The landlord regarded her with surprise and scorn.
Then followed two or three minutes of silence. Miss Fouracres had resumed her sewing, though not her seat. Mr. Ruddiman sipped his beverage more gravely than usual. 'How is Mr. Fouracres? he asked at length. 'I'm sorry to say, sir, was the subdued reply, 'that he's thinking about the Prince. 'Oh, dear! sighed Mr. Ruddiman, as one for whom this mysterious answer had distressing significance.
In the second twelvemonth of their acquaintance they reached the point of exchanging reminiscences as to the weather, discussing the agricultural prospects of the county, and remarking on the advantage to rural innkeepers of the fashion of bicycling. In the third year they were quite intimate; so intimate, indeed, that when Mr. Fouracres chanced to be absent they spoke of his remarkable history.
Fouracres occupied a very comfortable position; he was landlord of a flourishing inn called an hotel in a little town of some importance as an agricultural centre, and seemed perfectly content with the life and the society natural to a man so circumstanced.
Fouracres the result of the honour he so strenuously vindicated was serious indeed. By way of defiance to all mockers he wished to change the time-honoured sign of the inn, and to substitute for it the Prince of Wales's Feathers.
For the rest of the day they saw very little of each other. Mr. Ruddiman rambled musing. When he came at the usual hour to supper, guests were occupying the hostess. Having eaten, he went out to smoke his pipe in the garden, and lingered there it being a fine, warm night till after ten o'clock. Miss Fouracres' voice aroused him from a fit of abstraction. 'I've just locked up, sir. 'Ah! Yes.
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