"Oh!" cried Eric, gazing at the Vicar with additional interest.
"Now, I wonder what that exclamation means?" Mr. Cole said, inquiringly.
"It means that I've heard a great deal about you," Eric replied, frankly. "I've often heard Putty speak of his godfather. Fancy your being the man!"
"Yes, I'm the man!" and the Vicar gave an involuntary, amused laugh.
"Well, I'm glad," Eric said, with candour. He knew that Lawrence Puttenham's godfather was paying for his education, and had promised to start him in life; but he had received that information in confidence, and so he had never mentioned it even to his mother. "Won't Putty be astonished next term when tell him I know you!" he exclaimed.
"And won't he be astonished when he comes to pay me a visit next week, and finds you located near at hand!"
"Is he coming?" Eric asked, eagerly, his voice full of intense pleasure, his eyes bright with expectancy. "Have you invited him, really?"
"Yes, and if all's well he will arrive on Monday evening."
"And it's Thursday to-day. This is grand news! I say, Mr. Cole, please don't write and tell him anything about me. We'll give him a surprise."
"So we will," the Vicar agreed. "Are you sure you won't have any more tea? No? Well, then, suppose we adjourn to the cricket field, I expect most of the boys have arrived by this time."