bedroom. Unity shall bring you up some supper. I wish you not to
be here when he comes back.'



Chapter X

'Beneath the shelter of an aged tree.'


Stephen retraced his steps towards the cottage he had visited only
two or three hours previously. He drew near and under the rich
foliage growing about the outskirts of Endelstow Park, the spotty
lights and shades from the shining moon maintaining a race over
his head and down his back in an endless gambol. When he crossed
the plank bridge and entered the garden-gate, he saw an
illuminated figure coming from the enclosed plot towards the house
on the other side. It was his father, with his hand in a sling,
taking a general moonlight view of the garden, and particularly of
a plot of the youngest of young turnips, previous to closing the
cottage for the night.

He saluted his son with customary force. 'Hallo, Stephen! We
should ha' been in bed in another ten minutes. Come to see what's
the matter wi' me, I suppose, my lad?'

The doctor had come and gone, and the hand had been pronounced as
injured but slightly, though it might possibly have been
considered a far more serious case if Mr. Smith had been a more
important man. Stephen's anxious inquiry drew from his father