“Did you? Well, give it back to me.”
Reluctantly William handed it back to Robert.
“How much’ll you give it me for?” he said shortly.
“Well, how much have you?” said Robert ruthlessly.
“Nothin’—not jus’ at present,” admitted William. “But I’d do something for you for it. I’d do anythin’ you want done for it. You just tell me what to do for it, an’ I’ll do it.”
“Well, you can—you can get the Bishop’s handkerchief for me, and then I’ll give mine to you.”
The trouble with Robert was that he imagined himself a wit.
The trouble with William was that he took things literally.
******
The Bishop was expected in the village the next day. It was the great event of the summer. He was a distant relation of the Vicar’s. He was to open the Sale of Work, address a large meeting on temperance, spend the night at the vicarage, and depart the next morning.