so take the tiller and steer home. The horse knew his business, and
would do the rest.

"And you can't mistake the boat. _Duchess of Teck_ is her name, an' she
lies about three ropes' lengths this side of the iron bridge, just as
you come abreast o' the brick wall that belongs to the Orph'nage."

"Bring forth the steed," commanded Mr. Mortimer. "Nay, I will accompany
you to the stables and fetch him."

"_And_ the saucepan! Don't forget the saucepan!" Mrs. Mortimer called
after them in a sprightly voice as they crossed the yard together.

"Ha, the saucepan!" Within the stable doorway Mr. Mortimer stood still
and pressed a hand to his brow. "You cannot think, my dear Smiles, how
that obligation weighs on me. The expense of a saucepan--what is it?
And yet--" He seemed to ponder. Of a sudden his brow cleared.
"--Unless, to be sure--that is to say, if you should happen to have a
shilling about you?"

"I got no change but 'arf-a-crown, if that's any use," answered the
charmed Sam.

"Nothing smaller? Still," suggested Mr. Mortimer quickly, "I could
bring back the change."

"Yes, do."

"It will please Arabella, too. In point of fact, during the whole of
our married life I have made it a rule never to absent myself from her
side without bringing back some trifling gift. Women--as you will
understand one of these days--set a value on these _petits soins_; and
somewhere in the neighbourhood of the iron bridge a tinsmith's should
not be hard to find . . . Ah, thanks, my dear fellow--thanks
inexpressibly! Absurd of me, of course; but you cannot think what a
load you have taken off my mind."

Sam unhitched one of a number of hauling tackles hanging against the
wall, and led forth his horse--a sturdy old grey, by name Jubilee.
Casting the tackle carelessly on the animal's back, he handed Mr.
Mortimer the headstall rope, and left him, to return two minutes later
with the saucepan he had promised.

"She must use this one for the time," he explained. "And afterwards
yours will come as a surprise."

"It must be so, I suppose," assented Mr. Mortimer, but after a pause,
and reluctantly, averting his eyes from the accursed thing.

To spare him, Sam hurried across to deliver it to the lady, who awaited
them in the doorway: and thus approaching he became aware that she was
making mysterious signals. He glanced behind him. Plainly the signals
were not directed at her husband, who had halted to stoop and pass a
h