The visit paid, the two men met again in the inn parlour down-stairs.
"He is in a high fever," said the doctor, "and he will need great care and attention. It is too much for Mistress Susan—I will send you a nurse to-morrow. For to-night, Giles's wife can do all that is necessary."
But Susan would not hear of this arrangement, declaring that she would remain at her post till the nurse arrived.
Three weeks later two men sat upon a seat on the vicarage lawn.
Again it was a Sunday evening, and the two men were the Vicar and the apparitor.
"And you are sure that you are able to travel to-morrow?" said the Vicar.
"Yes, I shall take it by easy stages—resting for a night at East Grinstead, and so reaching London on the evening of the second day."
"London," said the Vicar; "then you go to make your report to the Government?"
"No, Mr. Vicar, I have resigned my office of apparitor—I take up work of another sort in London."