They accordingly did so. Their eyes were about on a level, for Eric was tall for his age, and the Vicar, though broad-shouldered and athletic, barely reached the middle-height.
"I wonder what you want of me," Eric remarked, not a little curiously. "How did you find out my name? Who told you about me?"
The Vicar laughed at the perplexity in the boy's tone, and replied: "Miss Pring told me about you, and it was from her I learnt your name. I have met your mother on several occasions, but though she mentioned her son, she did not say much concerning him. I hear you are a great cricketer, and a first-rate hand at wicket-keeping. Well, we have a cricket club at Crumleigh, and I want you to join it, and give the members—farm lads they are mostly—a few lessons in the noble game. Will you?"
"Of course I will!" Eric answered, flushing with pleasure.
"Thank you. I am sure Sir Jasper will raise no objection to your giving me your help; he is a subscriber to the Crumleigh Cricket Club, but, perhaps I had better go on and speak to him about it. Are you going far?"
"No, only to meet my mother, who has been spending the afternoon at Home Vale."
"Then I will proceed alone, and hear what Sir Jasper has to say."
The Vicar nodded, and went on, whilst Eric hurried forward, meeting his mother at the next turn in the road. He had started from the Moat House vastly indignant with Sir Jasper, but he had had time to cool down, so instead of pouring into Mrs. Wallis' ears the tale of Joy's wrongs to begin with, he first of all informed her that he had seen Mr. Cole, who wanted him to join the Crumleigh Cricket Club.
"That would be rather nice for you, would it not?" she asked, herself pleased with the idea. "You were saying only last night how much you would enjoy a good game of cricket. This club is composed of village lads, I suppose?"
"Yes. Mr. Cole had heard about my wicket-keeping, mother."