Robert was returning with the catkins. Miss Flower went to meet him.
“Robert,” she said, “have you any money? I’ve left my purse at home. There’s a poor old man here in dreadful trouble.”
Robert’s sole worldly possessions at that moment were two and sevenpence halfpenny. He gave her half a crown. She handed it to William, and William, keeping his face still covered with one hand pocketed the half-crown with the other.
“Do speak to him,” whispered Miss Flower. “See if you can help him at all. He may be ill.”
Robert sat down next to William and cleared his throat nervously.
“Now, my man——” he began, then stopped abruptly, staring at all that could be seen of William’s face.
He tore off the hat and beard.
“You little wretch! And whose coat are you wearing, you little idiot?”
He tore open the coat. The sight it revealed was too much for him. He sank back upon the seat with a groan.
Miss Flower sat on the grass by the roadside and laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks.