side of things, as opposed to the Woman's religion, which, as far
as Conradin could observe, went to great lengths in the contrary
direction. And on great festivals powdered nutmeg was strewn in
front of his hutch, an important feature of the offering being
that the nutmeg had to be stolen. These festivals were of
irregular occurrence, and were chiefly appointed to celebrate some
passing event. On one occasion, when Mrs. de Ropp suffered from
acute toothache for three days, Conradin kept up the festival
during the entire three days, and almost succeeded in persuading
himself that Sredni Vashtar was personally responsible for the
toothache. If the malady had lasted for another day the supply of
nutmeg would have given out.

The Houdan hen was never drawn into the cult of Sredni Vashtar.
Conradin had long ago settled that she was an Anabaptist. He did
not pretend to have the remotest knowledge as to what an
Anabaptist was, but he privately hoped that it was dashing and not
very respectable. Mrs. de Ropp was the ground plan on which he
based and detested all respectability.

After a while Conradin's absorption in the tool-shed began to
attract the notice of his guardian. "It is not good for him to be
pottering down there in all weathers," she promptly decided, and
at breakfast one morning she announced that the Houdan hen had
been sold and taken away overnight. With her short-sighted eyes
she peered at Conradin, waiting for an outbreak of rage and
sorrow, which she was ready to rebuke with a flow of excellent
precepts and reasoning. But Conradin said nothing: there was
nothing to be said. Something perhaps in his white set face gave
her a momentary qualm, for at tea that afternoon there was toast