THE Vicarage at Crumleigh was situated at one end of the straggling village street. It was a modern, red-brick building with bay windows in front; and had been built on the site of the former Vicarage, which had been destroyed by fire some years previously. A large garden, well cultivated, surrounded the house, which stood back some distance from the street, on the opposite side to the church; and next to the Vicarage grounds was the field where the members of the Crumleigh Cricket Club assembled during the summer evenings, after their day's work was done, to practice the famous old English game.
Mr. Cole had been only two years the Vicar of Crumleigh. Before that time, his work had lain in a large London parish, where he had laboured as a curate for more than twenty years; then, broken down by severe illness, he had accepted the living of Crumleigh, which had been offered to him most opportunely.
As he entertained Eric Wallis to tea in his comfortable dining-room, he told him some of his experiences in the great metropolis; and Eric confided in him that his chief friend at school was the son of a London clergyman, living in a very poor parish.
"What is his name?" Mr. Cole inquired.
"Lawrence Puttenham; but he's always called Putty. Why, you don't mean to say you know him!" the boy cried, as he noticed the Vicar's start of surprise.
"Know him? Why, of course I do! Then you are being educated at W— College? Lawrence Puttenham is the son of my oldest friend. I wonder if you mentioned Crumleigh to him that he did not tell you I was the Vicar here."
"I don't think I did mention Crumleigh to him," Eric said, reflectively. "I certainly told him all about Uncle Jasper, and the Moat House, and gave him to understand it was two miles from the town of T—, but, no, I'm sure I never spoke of the village."
"And not knowing the district, he would have no idea that Crumleigh was so near to T—."
"How very strange that you should know Putty!" Eric exclaimed.
"Not strange at all seeing that his father and I were at the same college together at Oxford, and have kept in touch with each other ever since. I know your friend very well; in fact, he's my godson."