On the following Sunday Jill went to the vestry to hand in her bag. She had not been the only one who had responded to the vicar's invitation, for several of the villagers had appeared, and though their offerings were small, they were willing ones. She stood waiting whilst the village shopkeeper and a farmer's wife were taking their tenth out of their well-worn purses. Then a voice behind her startled her. It was Sam's father.
"Eh, Miss Jill, here I be after you and your bag agen!"
"Oh, Mr. Stone, what have you got? I'm so glad you haven't given up!"
"I did have a mind to, as 'ee knows, but parson here do seem so set on it that I've been lookin' through some savin's o' mine."
Mr. Arnold said good-night to the two women, and turned to the old man.
"Are you bringing your money to me, Stone?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, sir, that I be—'ee do talk so convinceable that I be quite worried till I have done it."
"You must take it back again. I am only here to take my Master's money."
Old Mr. Stone rubbed his head.