and disclosing
socks, formerly white. The fact that his legs remotely suggested a pair
of calipers added to the quaintness of the figure he presented while in
full stride down the village street.

The moment Mr. Needham swung into view, the coat-tails of the postmaster
were violently agitated, and his face broadened into a smile as he
turned quickly into the doorway and called:

"'Enry, 'ere quick. 'Ere's the passon!"

Back in the shade and coolness of the shop the person thus addressed had
been eagerly engaged in dipping into several volumes just brought that
morning by the carrier from Birmingham, for it was Mr. Edward John
Charles's great privilege to be the medium of obtaining books for
several of the county gentry in the neighbourhood of Hampton, and these
were always feverishly fingered by his son Henry before being despatched
to their purchasers.

This same Henry was esteemed by his fond parent a perfect marvel of
learning, and nothing delighted more the postmaster than to present him
on all available occasions for the vicar's admiration.

In response to the summons, Henry issued into the sunlight of the open
door, and craning his neck beyond the projecting window, beheld the
advancing figure of the vicar. But the vicar, rusty and time-soiled
though he seemed, was still well-oiled mentally, and had taken in at a
glance the manoeuvres at the Post Office door. Knowing that he would
have to fight his way past, he slowed down and approached with a
pleasant "Good-morning" to Edward John and a bright smile for Henry, who
was his favourite among the lads of the village.

"Well, Henry," he said, as if opening fire, "how do the studies
progress?"

"'Enry," returned the postmaster, before the lad had time to answer, "is
making wonnerful progress, simply wonnerful. I reckon all the prizes at
the school this term are as good as 'is," and the coat-tails opened
into a particularly expanded =V=. "And as for Latin, vicar," he
continued, "I shouldn't be surprised if 'e was soon upsides with
yourself! 'E's at it every night. Oh, 'e do study, I can tell you."

Mr. Needham smiled at this parental puffery, and answered somewhat
timidly:

"Ah, my dear Mr. Charles, I am afraid I have credit for more Latin than
I possess. Nothing is so hard for a scholar as to live up to his
reputation."

He even glanced furtively down the street, debating whether he should
clap on full sail forthwith, and resume his voyage before the
pos