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"Nay, Jack," he said, when by signs I offered him to ride and tie: "never rode o' horseback but once, and then 'pon Parson Spinks his red mare at Bideford. Parson i' those days was courtin' the Widow Hambly, over to Torrington: an' I, that wanted to fare to Barnstaple, spent that mornin' an' better part o' th' afternoon, clawin' off Torrington.

I saw Doctor Mant after the meetin' last night, an' this mornin' I was up early an' had a talk wi' the Minister wi' Mr Hambly. The upshot is, that time presses." "I do not usually discuss business on the Sabbath," said Mr Pamphlett stiffly. "O' course not. Who would?" Nicky-Nan agreed. "But the upshot is that you an' me havin' been not what you might call friends "

I'm trustin' 'ee that's what it comes to. I've had a talk with Mr Hambly besides; and he and Dr Mant'll look after my interests. . . . You see, I did find a hoard o' money in the Old Doctor's House, an' stuck to it, not knowin' the law. On the paper, too, you'll see what I've used of it every penny accounted for. Mr Hambly says that anyway the law gives me a share far beyond anything I've used.

Next, a Sub-Committee of Ways and Means, to collect subscriptions, and also to act as Finance Committee. The Vicar, Mr Best, Mr Hambly, with Mr Pamphlett for Honorary Treasurer. Then Dr Mant unfolded a scheme of Ambulance Classes. He was one of those careless, indolent men who can spurt invaluably on any business which is not for their private advantage.

Every man in this church," concluded Mr Hambly, "has a strong sense a conviction, which I share that the cause of England is right, that she is threatened and calls to him as he has never heard her call in his lifetime: and the call is to fight for her, but as men not straying to learn a new gospel of hate, remembering rather what at the best our Country has been, and proud to vindicate that."

I'll admit, too, that all these preparations may well strike you as petty, and even futile. But they may be good, anyhow, for our own souls' health. They will give us a sense of helping." Mr Hambly took off his spectacles and wiped them, for his eyes were moist.

The Minister listened to them politely. He was the gentlest of little men and had a club-foot. Mark Hambly never spoke evil of any one, nor listened to gossip save with a loose attention. "The man has a wandering mind!" declared Miss Oliver. "It don't seem able to fix itself.

So I leave it atween 'ee, to see fair play for me if ever I come back. If I don't, I've left it to the Penhaligon children; an' Mr Hambly an' Dr Mant'll see fair play for them. . . . But you understand, sir" Nicky-Nan dived into his left trouser-pocket and showed a palmful of coins "I've taken ten pound, for the operation an' sundries." Mr Pamphlett studied the paper for a moment.

"I only wish to add," the Vicar persisted, "that before any outside society works in this parish, I shall urge very strongly that the parish nominates its agents: and that I hope to have the pleasure of proposing Mrs Polsue and Mr Hambly. One more word " "Certainly not." His wife cut him short with a sharp rap on the table. "I can rule you out of order, at all events!" Everybody laughed.

When these two ladies joined forces to attack Mr Hambly on the subject of Nicky-Nan's atheism, presumed upon his neglect to attend public worship, the Minister's lack of interest became fairly exasperating. He arose and opened the window. "Astonishing plague of house-flies we are suffering from this year," he observed.