Jack burst into a short laugh, undeterred by the appealing glances cast upon him by three frightened feminine listeners.
“What grounds? Why, the house is an advertisement of shabbiness; the vicar’s coat is green with age, and the poor little kiddies look as if they had come out of the ark! Mrs Thornton has pluck enough for a dozen, or she would never keep things going as she does; but she looks an old woman before her time.”
“Then it is your deliberate conclusion that I ought to increase the Vicar’s stipend?”
Under cover of the tablecloth a little hand stole along and laid a gentle pressure on Jack’s arm. He turned and met Mollie’s eyes, grave and appealing, with no trace of the frivolity of which he had complained earlier in the day, and, at the sight, his irritation died a sudden death. Mollie must indeed have forgiven him when she condescended to so sweet an intimacy. The rush of joy which accompanied the thought put him at once at peace with all men.
“The labourer is worthy of his hire, sir,” he answered quietly. “I call Thornton a rattling good fellow, and I should like to see him relieved of monetary troubles. It’s hard lines to expect a man to be an example of all the virtues when he is constantly wondering how to make both ends meet. I don’t set much store on money, as you know, but I should enjoy being in the position to do a good turn to a man like that.”
Mr Farrell’s sunken eyes gave forth a malicious gleam.
“You speak with feeling. Perhaps you have been enjoying a foretaste of the experience. Surely you must be the generous Unknown who contributed the hamper of fruit of which we have heard so much during the last few days!”
There was a simultaneous gasp of surprise round the table, and everyone turned to stare with curious eyes at Jack’s scarlet face. Scarlet, with an embarrassment which plainly proved the truth of the accusation; with anger, too, and thwarted self-will. His nostrils inflated in the old haughty manner, as he replied coldly—
“I thought we were discussing Mr Thornton’s income! I fail to see what the hamper has to do with the case.”
Mr Farrell gave the short, staccato sound which did service for a laugh.