said the Dean, "and in any case our brother Bull, if I may be pardoned
a vulgarism, will knock the stuffing out of that pestilent Menzi and his
crowd."

"Do you think so?" asked the other. "I am not so certain. I have met old
Menzi, and he is a tough nut to crack. He may 'knock the stuffing' out
of him. Bull, sound as he is, and splendid as he is in many ways, does
not, it seems to me, quite understand natives, or that it is easier to
lead them than to drive them."

"Perhaps not," said the Dean, "but in the case of these Sisas it is
rather a matter of Hobson's choice, isn't it?"

So this affair was settled, and in due course Thomas received his letter
of appointment as priest-in-charge of the Sisa station.



On his arrival home a few days later, where he was not expected till the
following week, Thomas was so pre-occupied that he scarcely seemed to
notice his wife's affectionate greeting; even the fact that both she
and Tabitha were arrayed in smart and unmissionary-like garments escaped
him. Dorcas also looked pre-occupied, the truth being that she had
asked a few young people, officers and maidens of the place (alas! as
it chanced, among them were no clergy or their wives and daughters), to
play tennis that afternoon and some of them to stop to supper. Now she
was wondering how her austere spouse would take the news. He might
be cross and lecture her; when he was both cross and lectured the
combination was not agreeable.