"A boy, a fine healthy little chap, so Butt's mother-in-law has written to tell him."
"How he must wish to see the baby!" exclaimed Mrs. John, with a softening countenance.
"He's hoping to, before long, ma'am, for there'll be a cottage vacant in the village at Christmas, and he means to take it. Then, as soon as he possibly can, he's going to ask master to allow him a couple of days' holiday to fetch his wife and baby."
"He appears to have taken you into his confidence, Jane."
Jane nodded. The hamper was corded by this time, and all that remained to be done was to address a label.
Mrs. John glanced out of the window, then turned to Rose.
"There's Butt in the yard now; he's going into Oxford with the waggon presently, so he can send off the hamper himself from the station. Tell him I want him."
Rose went to do her mother's bidding, and a few minutes later returned, followed by Richard Butt, who had greatly improved in appearance since the afternoon he had begged from Mavis, and she had impulsively sent him around to the back door. Then he had looked ragged, cold, and dispirited; now he was comfortably clad, and held his head erect once more.
"What is your wife's address, Butt?" inquired Mrs. John.
"My wife's address, ma'am!" the man exclaimed, in amazement.