some had already the Blue Peter at the fore.

A myrtle-bush which grew out of a hole in the cobbles was carefully
trained against the front of a cottage in the middle of the row, and a
brass plate on the door informed the wayfarer and ignorant man that "T.
Janaway, Sexton," dwelt within. About eight o'clock on the Saturday
evening, some two hours after Lord Blandamer and Westray had parted, the
door of the myrtle-fronted cottage was open, and the clerk stood on the
threshold smoking his pipe, while from within came a cheerful, ruddy
light and a well-defined smell of cooking; for Mrs Janaway was
preparing supper.

"Tom," she called, "shut the door, and come to thy victuals."

"Ay," he answered, "I'll be with 'ee directly; but gi'e me a minute. I
want to see who this is coming up the lane."

Someone that the clerk knew at once for a stranger had entered the
little street at the bottom. There was half a moon, and light enough to
see that he was in search of some particular house; for he crossed from
one side of the lane to the other, and peered at the numbers on the
doors. As he came nearer, the clerk saw that he was of spare build, and
wore a loose overcoat or cape, which fluttered in the breeze that blew
at evening from the sea. A moment later Janaway knew that the stranger
was Lord Blandamer, and stepped back instinctively to let him pass. But
the open door had caught the attention of the passer-by; he stopped, and
greeted the householder cheerily.

"A beautiful night, but with a cold touch in the air that makes your
warm room look very cheerful." He recognised the clerk's face as he
spoke, and went on: "Ah, ha! we are old friends already; we met in the
minster a week ago, did we not?"

Mr Janaway was a little disconcerted at the unexpectedness of the
meeting, and returned the salutation in a confused way. The attempt
which he had made to prevent Lord Blandamer from entering the choir was
fresh in his memory, and he stammered some unready excuses.

Lord Blandamer smiled with much courtesy.

"You were quite right to stop me; you would have been neglecting your
duty if you had not done so. I had no idea that service was going on,
or I should not have come in; you may make your mind quite easy on that
score. I hope you will have many more opportunities of finding a place
for me in Cullerne Church."

"No need to find any place for _you_, my Lord. You have your own seat
appointed and fixed, as sure as Ca