"'Yes, sir.'
"'And who put the flowers?'
"'Miss Kitty, the little maid at the rectory. She said she'd thought he'd be lonely without any;' and the sacristan straightened his back with a little smile.
"'I hope you don't mind,' said a voice behind me. 'I've a notion your relative did not like flowers at a funeral, but I could not upset Kitty's conviction that he did.'
"It was the rector who had come upon me unawares, and he did not pretend not to know me.
"'What can it matter now?' I answered. 'He'll know nothing of it.'
"But I must stop, I've no time to describe the good man. Come and see him for yourself.
"Ever yours,
"PAUL LESSING."