importance by virtue of
that purely fortuitous circumstance.

The while, in Mr Sefton's snug rooms Haviland and the master were
forgathering.

"Light your pipe, Haviland," said the latter. "A wanderer like you
can't do without it, I expect. Well! well! I'm very glad to see you
again, very. And you've done credit to the old place, too."

"Oh, as to that, sir, I have only my good fortune to thank in having
been able to take my own line. Round peg in a round hole, you know."

Mr Sefton looked at the tall form and bronzed face of the young
explorer with unmeasured approval. He himself had hardly changed at
all--turning a little grey, perhaps, that was all.

"I say, sir, what were they about that they didn't make you head when
the Doctor left?" broke forth Haviland.

"Ha! That isn't a sore point with me. I'm second now, and that's good
enough to go on with." Then, leaning forward in his quaint way--"Other
man--interest by marriage--see?" with a chuckle. "I say, though," he
went on, "fancy them making Nick a bishop, eh?"

"Yes, I'm glad he's got a good thing, though," said Haviland. "He had a
`down' on me, but he was so awfully good to me afterwards that it didn't
count."

"I know he had, and I don't mind telling you now that I thought so at
the time, and, still more surprising, he came to recognise it himself.
It's the only time I've ever known Nick concede anything. You ought to
go and see him one of these days. He'd be delighted."

"I should like to. But, I say, Mr Sefton, I should burst out laughing
in his face, because I should always be thinking of the day I marched up
solemnly behind him in chapel."

"We've often shouted over that. Williams never could forget it. By the
way, Williams has taken orders now. Fancy, Williams a parson. He's
gone in for a parish and matrimony. He'd like to see you too. Who's
that?" he broke off. "Come in, can't you! Oh, it's you, Clay? Here.
Sit down."

"I thought I'd find Haviland here," said the other master, who though of
peppery habit in school could be genial enough outside.

And then they got on to all sorts of old reminiscences, of which the
episode of the ghost in Hangman's Wood was the one which caused the two
masters to laugh until their sides ached.

"Fancy Cetchy turning out a king!" said Mr Clay, at last. "We ought to
have a sort of Zulu royal arms stuck up over the gate here."

"Tell him about how nearly Cetchy came to having your head c