“It’s early days yet,” I ventured, intending encouragement, but Stott frowned and shook his head.
“I’m not going to kid myself,” he said, “I know. But I’m going to find a youngster and learn ’im. On’y he must be young.”
“No ’abits, you know,” he explained.
The next time I met Stott was in November. I ran up against him, literally, one Friday afternoon in Ailesworth.
When he recognised me he asked me if I would care to walk out to Stoke-Underhill with him. “I’ve took a cottage there,” he explained, “I’m to be married in a fortnight’s time.”
His circumstances certainly warranted such a venture. The proceeds of matinee and benefit, invested for him by the Committee of the County Club, produced an income of nearly two pounds a week, and in addition to this he had his salary as groundsman. I tendered my congratulations.
“Oh! well, as to that, better wait a bit,” said Stott.
He walked with his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the ground. He had the air of a man brooding over some project.
“It is a lottery, of course ...” I began, but he interrupted me.
“Oh that!” he said, and kicked a stone into the ditch; “take my chances of that. It’s the kid I’m thinking on.”