He did not reappear for so long a time that I began to think it would
be prudent to investigate. Traveling gentry of such a class are not
always desirable visitors when the kitchen happens to be unoccupied for
the nonce. As I made my way in that direction through the little hall
I heard voices through the half-open door beyond.

"It'll be all right, Archie," Penny was saying. "The priest shall have
the money as soon as he comes in, and if he can't say the Mass
to-morrow, I'll take care to send you word by Willy. Now, mind you get
a bit of fire lighted when you get back home. You must be wet through!"

"Thank ye kindly, Mistress Spence," came the slow response in the
quavering voice of the old man. "It's yersel' that's aye kind and
thochtful!"

I waited till I heard the door close upon the supposed "tramp" before
venturing to make the inquiries that rushed to my lips. And even then
I paused a while. When needing information from Penny, one has to be
circumspect; she has a way of shutting off the supply with ruthless
decision, yet with a seeming absence of deliberate purpose, whenever
she suspects a "pumping" operation.

"I'm one that won't be drove," I've often heard her say. So we old
fellows are often obliged to have recourse to diplomacy in dealing with
our old nurse.

Consequently I lounged casually, as it were, into Penny's domain with
the remark, "That poor old chap looked awfully wet, Penny."

"Wet enough he was, Mr. Edmund," replied the unsuspecting Penny, "and I