y kisses as there are
scratches, my dear."

Polly bridled--young women of her class still bridle--but looked rather
pleased. And Gammon chuckled to himself, thinking that all went well.

The rain came, but for all that they had a day of enjoyment, spent
chiefly in an arbour, not quite rainproof, on the skittle-ground behind
the "Blue Anchor" at Hendon. Continuous was the popping of corks, and
frequent were the outbursts of hilarity. Polly did not abandon her
reserve with Mr. Gammon; now and then she condescended to smile at his
sallies of wit, whereas she screamed at a joke from others. The
landlord of the "Blue Anchor" was a widower of about thirty, and had
some claims to be considered a lady's man; to him Polly directed her
friendly looks and remarks with a freedom which could not but excite
attention.

"Is that the fellow that's going to give me a thrashing?" Gammon asked
of her at length in an aside.

"Don't be a silly," she answered, turning her back.

"Because, if so, I'd better get the start of him. There's a convenient
bit of ground here."

He spoke with such seeming seriousness that Polly showed alarm.

"Don't be a silly, Mr. Gammon. If you misbehave yourself, I'll never
speak to you again."

"Well, what I want to know is, am I to be on guard? Am I to mind my eye
whenever I'm near you?"

He spoke as if with a real desire to be relieved from apprehension. At
this moment their companions had drawn apart, and they could converse
unheard.

"You know very well what you deserve," replied Polly, looking askance
at him. "And if such a thing ever was to happen again--well, you'd see,
that's all."

Therewith the peace, or at all events the truce, was concluded, and
Miss Sparkes allowed herself to meet Mr. Gammon's advances with
frankness and appreciation. The fact that he did unmistakably make
advances secretly surprised her, but not more than Gammon was surprised
to find himself coming into favour.

A few days later the opportunity for which he waited came to pass, and
he was invited to an interview with Quodling and Son; that is to say,
with a person who was neither Quodling nor Quodling's son, but held a
position of authority at their place of business in Norton Folgate.
Whenever the chance was given him of applying personally for any post
that he desired, Mr. Gammon felt a reasonable assurance of success.
Honesty was written broadly upon his visage; capability declared itself
in his speech. He could