"I rather think I have, too," said Jimmy, "once or twice."
"I should like to be a better man," said the vicar. "I've always wished to be that."
"And you will be," said Jimmy. "If you help us in this you'll be—— By Jove! you'll be the best man I've ever met."
"And it isn't very wrong," said Beth.
"It isn't wrong at all," said Mary eagerly. "When anyone is wicked enough to make a law against silk stockings it isn't wrong to break it, it's right."
"The wronger it is the better man the vicar will be afterwards," said Jimmy. "That's what Mrs. Eames says, and she knows."
"If I ever said any such thing——" said Mrs. Eames.
"You have," said the vicar. "My dear Agatha, you often have."
"I may have," said Mrs. Eames unwillingly. "But if I did, I certainly never meant the sort of wrong thing you could be put in prison for."
"But he won't be," said Jimmy, "or if he is, we'll all be there with him."