He put both hands behind him and bowed with his honeyed smile.
"It's not mine, Miss Woodburn, thank you," he said.
The girl was growing apace.
A few months back she would have said "It is," and have dropped it at his feet. Now she answered:
"You may have it whenever you like to call for it," and passed on.
A little farther down the street she met the vicar.
On her face was that frosty look that Mr. Haggard said made him afraid.
"Well, Boy?" he said.
"Good morning, Mr. Haggard," she answered, but she did not stop.
That evening she called at the cottage where Joses lodged and handed Mrs. Boam the knife done up in brown paper.