omething about your making war upon a large scale,"
Stephen explained diffidently.

She sat still for a moment. She was looking towards the deserted cricket
pitch.

"Where is he staying now?" she asked.

"I do not know," he answered. "I have warned all the likely people not
to receive him, and I have told him, too, that he will only get your
tenants into trouble if he tries to get lodgings here."

"I should like," she said, "to speak to him. Perhaps you would be so
good as to ask him to step this way for a moment."

Stephen departed, wondering. Deyes was watching his hostess with an air
of covert amusement.

"Do you continue the warfare," he asked, "or has the young man's prowess
softened your heart?"

Wilhelmina raised her parasol and looked steadily at her questioner.

"Warfare is scarcely the word, is it?" she remarked carelessly. "I have
no personal objection to the young man."

They watched him crossing the field towards them. Notwithstanding his
recent exertions, he walked lightly, and without any sign of fatigue.
Deyes looked curiously at the crest upon the cap which he was carrying
in his hand.

"Magdalen," he muttered. "Your missioner grows more interesting."

Wilhelmina leaned forwards. Her face was inscrutable, and her greeting
devoid of cordiality.

"So you have decided to teach my people cricket instead of morals, Mr.
Macheson," she remarked.

"The two," he answered pleasantly, "are not incompatible."

Wilhelmina frowned.

"I hope," she said, "that you have abandoned your idea of holding
meetings in the village."

"Certainly not," he answered. "I will begin next week."

"You understand," she said calmly, "that I consider you--as a
missioner--an intruder--here! Those of my people who attend your
services will incur my displeasure!"

"Madam," he answered, "I do not believe that you will visit it upon
them."

"But I will," she interrupted ruthlessly. "You are young and know little
of the world. You have not yet learnt the truth of one of the oldest of
proverbs--that it is well to let well alone!"

"It is a sop for the idle, that proverb," he answered. "It is the motto
for the great army of those who drift."

"I have been making inquiries," she said. "I find that my villagers are
contented and prosperous. There are no signs of vice in the place."

"There is such a thing," he answered, "as being too prosperous,
over-contented. The person in such a state takes life for granted.
Relig