He was made very welcome by Mrs. Wragge while the men looked at him a little doubtfully. Soon he had a cup of tea and a piece of gingerbread in front of him. As the cook placed them there his head touched her solid warm arm and he smiled gratefully up at her, his white teeth gleaming in his dark face.
Noah Binns whispered in Wright’s ear, — “I don’t like his looks.”
“Ssh,” Wright warned out of the side of his mouth.
Raikes was saying, — “What a backward spring we’re having. As I came along the path the snow was up near to me knees.”
“And more of it in the sky,” said Wright.
“It’s tarrible,” said Noah, “how the days is lengthening. I don’t know of a worse sight than a long day and no sign of spring.”
“Have another cup of tea, Noah.” Mrs. Wragge pushed it across the table to him without ceremony. “It’ll make you feel better.”
“This new bell-ringer they’ve got at the church,” he said, “don’t seem to have no knack with the bell. Every Sunday I stand by him both morning and evening and my hands itch to get ahold of that rope. He can’t ring the bell proper and never will though I direct him at every pull of the rope.”
“Lands sakes!” exclaimed Mrs. Wragge.
“I wrastle with that young man,” he continued, “till the perspiration is apouring down both our faces. ‘Faster!’ I say, and then ‘Not so fast! Put some muscle into it!’ I say, and then I say, ‘Don’t writhe around as if you’d the stummickache.’ And he yells back and I can’t hear him for the ringing of the bell. It’s enough to drive me crazy.”
“Land alive!” exclaimed Mrs. Wragge.
Raikes said on a deep reminiscent note, — “You should hear the bells where I come from, Mr. Binns.”
“That’d be in Ireland, eh?” Noah asked in a disparaging tone.
“Yes. In Ireland. It’s only a village church but we have six lovely bells and a ringer to each. You ought to hear the chimes on a special occasion.”
“They’d be Catholic bells, eh?” said Noah in a still more disparaging tone.
“No. Protestant.”
Wright said, — “I’ll never forget my trip to Ireland. Old Mr. Court there, he’d sent for little Maurice to go aver and stay with him and I took him. It was a big responsibility but I enjoyed it.”
“Well do I remember the poor little feller comin’ to tell us goodbye. My, he was cute,” said Mrs. Wragge.
“And he’s a grown-up young man now and going back to claim his property.” Wright gave a sigh. “Lord, how time flies!”
“Flies!” exclaimed Noah. “Fifty year I rang that there church bell and did ever one of this here family say I done it well? No. Not one.”
“Are you countin’ me?” Mrs. Wragge asked.
“I was not. Do you want to be counted one of this family?”
“Well, Colonel Whiteoak often does.”
“You’re welcome to him.” Noah stared straight at her.
“I suppose,” Raikes said in his soothing tones, “that it’s a fine property young Mr. Maurice owns over there.”
“Beautiful,” Wright agreed with pride. “A mansion there is — three times the size of this, with old armour in the hall and a grand stairway.”
“I don’t call this much of a house,” said Noah.
“It’s the finest in these parts.” Wright said truculently.
“Shucks. Y’ought to see some of the houses them millionaires have built, down on the shore.”
“I have seen ’em. They’re welcome to ’em — with their swimming pools and rumpus rooms and bars. There isn’t one with stables equal to ours.” Wright pushed his cup and saucer from in front of him and folded his arms. “Them — with their three cars and a station wagon — bah! They don’t know they’re alive.”
“I had a bit of an accident last night,” said Raikes. All looked enquiringly at him.
“Aye. I was coming home — I was driving Mr. Clapperton’s car and a truck bumped me right into a telegraph pole. The car was pretty well smashed.”
“My, that was bad luck,” said Mrs. Wragge. “It is hard on the nerves, these smashes. Have another cup of tea.”
“Thanks. I will.” He drank down half of it blazing hot.
“What’d Clapperton say?” grinned Wright.
“He was a bit upset. But he couldn’t say much as it wasn’t my fault. He allows me the use of that car. The other’s just for the use of the family.”
“How’s the pigs?” asked Wright.
“Ah, the young ones are dead.” A look of sadness softened Raikes’ face.
“Better luck next litter,” comforted Mrs. Wragge. “How’s that D.P. gettin’ on?”
“She’s leaving tomorrow.”
“Is it true she found a snake in her bedroom?”
“I’ll bet it was Clapperton,” grinned Wright.
Mrs. Wragge gave a yell of laughter which she quickly controlled. Rags uttered repeated giggles. Noah choked on his last mouthful of tea which he brought up. Only Raikes remained placid.
“It was no snake,” he said, “only a harmless mouse. But it isn’t for that she’s leaving. She’s not used to country life and she’s not used to our ways. She’s going with some friends of hers. We could make her stay on but we can manage without her. I’ll help with the work.”
“You!” laughed Mrs. Wragge. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“I’ll help you in your own kitchen this minute if you say the word.”
“I do most of the work here,” said Rags.
Before she could make a retort Noah Binns raised his rasping voice. “It’s a sinful crime,” he said, “the way the government brings these furriners to take the bread out of our mouths. They’re goin’ to be a blight on the country and bring it down to ruin.”
Steps were heard and a pair of pretty legs were seen descending the stairs from the hall above. A gay plaid skirt came into view, then a green blouse, and lastly Adeline’s smiling face. The men began to shuffle their feet under the table and push back their chairs but she called out:
“Don’t move! Goodness, what a pretty picture you make! Hello, Noah, what do you think of this for April?”
“It’s just what I foretold, Miss, away last fall. There’ll be no spring, I says, and we’ll go straight from the depths of snow into roastin’ boilin’ bakin’ summer.”
Adeline perched herself on the wide windowsill.
“You must pray for good weather for me, Noah,” she said. “I’m going on an ocean voyage.”
Noah Binns groaned. “That’s bad,” he said. “There’s storms brewin’ and German mines still floatin’ about. Danged if I’d go on an ocean voyage — not if my way was paid on the Queen Mary — and they say she rolls like all possessed.”
“Oh, Noah, don’t be so discouraging!” But she laughed delightedly.
“I suppose you’re going with Mr. Maurice, miss,” said Wright. “I well remember when I