The bus stopped, as always, at the Star.
Ernie, who felt the spirit of the show-man strong within him, pointed out the Manor-house with a certain proprietary air.
"That's where Mr. Trupp lives," he explained. "They come from all over the world to see him. He's our doctor. Has been this thirty year. Dad was one of the first in Old Town to have him. Give him his start, as you might say."
"He's a nice gentleman surely," said Ruth.
"Do you know him then?" asked Ernie, a thought jealously.
"I've knaw'd him all my life," answered the other. "He attends the Squire and family. He looked after my Miss Caryll till she died; and then me when I took bad after her death. Eh, but he was a kind gentleman."
"He brought me into the world," said Ernie with an air of finality, the desire to swagger still strong upon him. "He took the inside out of the Tsar of Dobrudja and he brought me into the world. That's what Mr. Trupp done."
She turned a deep brown eye on him.
"He done well," she said quietly.
Then they both laughed.