wiring that you would come next year or whenever it was. You're coming
now. I've got a job for you."

"But I don't want a job."

"What you want, my lad, and what you're going to get are two very
different things. There is man's work for you to do at Brinkley Court. Be
ready to the last button in twenty minutes."

"But I can't possibly be ready to any buttons in twenty minutes. I'm
feeling awful."

She seemed to consider.

"Yes," she said. "I suppose it's only humane to give you a day or two to
recover. All right, then, I shall expect you on the thirtieth at the
latest."

"But, dash it, what is all this? How do you mean, a job? Why a job? What
sort of a job?"

"I'll tell you if you'll only stop talking for a minute. It's quite an
easy, pleasant job. You will enjoy it. Have you ever hard of Market
Snodsbury Grammar School?"

"Never."

"It's a grammar school at Market Snodsbury."

I told her a little frigidly that I had divined as much.