"Some time this afternoon," he answered. "Why do you want to know?"
"The gentleman who is staying at the inn wants to know," Joan said.
"Is that all you have to say to me?" David asked quietly.
"No," said Joan, looking up at him. "There is something more: about the pastry--"
But just then Hieronymus had joined them.
"If you're talking about pastry," he said cheerily, "I never tasted any better than Miss Hammond's. I ate a dishful this morning!"
The exciseman looked at Joan, and at the historian.
"Yes," he said, as he cracked his whip, "it tastes good to those who can get it, and it tastes bad to those who can't get it."
And with that he galloped away, leaving Joan confused, and Hieronymus mystified. He glanced at his companion, and seemed to expect that she would explain the situation; but as she did not attempt to do so he walked quietly along with her until they came to the short cut which led back to the Green Dragon. There he parted from her, making an arrangement that she should come and write for him on the morrow. But as he strolled home he said to himself, "I am much afraid that I have been eating some one else's pastry! Well, it was very good, especially the jam-puffs!"
CHAPTER VI.