Betty indulged in many a laugh over the letters when completed, but to Jack's father they brought huge delight.
Much of what Jack said to father, and father said to Jack, was confided to Tom Chance at the rare intervals when the little boy could secure the parson's attention to himself, for Tom was a busy man and away for the principal part of every week, either touring in the bush or visiting the other three parishes, none less than twelve miles from the township, that were confided to his temporary care. Father's parable about Giants was also passed on in full with a few embellishments of Jack's own.
"A good notion that of father's," said Tom, "a notion that catches on. After all the world is just full of giants that we must subdue to our will. There's a many-headed giant that we may call Evil that we've all promised to fight, that we pray against every day. Deliver us from evil; everything that is wicked and bad, and then there's another giant God suffers in the world, the giant of illness and bodily suffering, but there are people who are fighting that with might and main, kind and clever doctors, such as you have here. If you want to find giants to subdue you will have no difficulty in discovering them."
"But I'm going to be just the same as father," said Jack sturdily. "I'm going to be an airman, same as he."
"Well, well, time will show," said Tom good-humouredly.
That talk had taken place one Sunday as they went down to church together. Tom usually made his re-appearance in the township on Saturday afternoon, and the moment after their dinner, Jack and Eva would wander down to the end of the lane and between their games watch eagerly for his coming. It was a matter of weekly speculation how he would arrive, whether walking, or on horseback, or upon a bicycle. It all depended upon the distances that he had to compass during the week, but it made the watching all the more exciting; but whenever and however he appeared he was sure of an enthusiastic welcome from his two devoted adherents. Although the vicarage was empty he remained with his sister, as it did not seem worth while to set up an establishment of his own for so short a period.
On one particular Saturday afternoon when the time for his appearing was long past, the children's patience began to ebb.
"Don't b'lieve he's coming at all," said Eva dejectedly.
"Lots of things may have happened," Jack answered, "his bike may have punctured, or his horse may have cast a shoe, or he may be very tired and can't walk fast."
Jack was prepared for every contingency but the notion that Tom would not turn up at all, that would be little short of a calamity, but a prolonged glance down the road showed something moving in the far distance.