'That's it,' said the man encouragingly; 'what sort of things now might old Perrin have made for you?'
'You made my wheelbarrow, I know,' said Philip, 'and my bricks.'
'Ah!' said Mr. Perrin, 'now you've got it. I made your bricks, seasoned oak, and true to the thousandth of an inch, they was. And that's how I got here. So now you know.'
'But what are you doing here?' said Philip, wriggling restlessly on the fallen column.
'Waiting for you. Them as knows sent me out to meet you, and give you a hint of what's expected of you.'
'Well. What is?' said Philip. 'I mean I think it's very kind of you. What is expected?'
'Plenty of time,' said the carpenter, 'plenty. Nothing ain't expected of you till towards sundown.'
'I do think it was most awfully kind of you,' said Philip, who had now thought this over.
'You was kind to old Perrin once,' said that person.
'Was I?' said Philip, much surprised.