"Is that so, Noakes?"
Noakes had to confess that it was.
"Come, now, Noakes, brambles grow very fast, and any hedger will close the gap for eightpence. It's a trumpery matter. You young fellows can pay half-a-crown between you for the damage, and Noakes must pay his own costs; it's an unreasonable action. Call the next case."
"Jolly old trump!" said Eves as they went out. "And I'm jolly glad the old boy's son is getting better."
On reaching the farm, Templeton found awaiting him a letter from his aunt, written in reply to one he had sent her more than a week before. She explained the long delay by the fact that the letter had pursued her through three counties. "I am delighted to hear," she wrote, "that you have not yet spent any of the money I sent you. It shows great strength of character. You will be pleased to hear that my lectures are a great success. I expect to reach Polstead in about ten days, and I shall be so glad if you will do a little thing to prepare my way. My lectures are thoroughly practical; it is useless to talk about economical foods if the dear people cannot procure them. I want you to see Mr. Philemon Noakes for me; he is the principal tradesman in the village; and ask him if he will very kindly lay in a stock of certain cheap articles of which I will send you a list. A personal interview is so much more satisfactory than a formal letter, and you will find Mr. Noakes a very civil and obliging person."
"My hat!" cried Eves, laughing. "What a rag! I'll come with you, old man."
Templeton looked worried.
A GAS ATTACK
I
Mr. Noakes made no further attempt to interfere with the irrigation of Farmer Trenchard's fields. The two lads repaired the dam, gave the parched ground a thorough soaking for two days and nights, then demolished the simple structure and allowed the stream to pursue its usual course.