"I hope not," Maud cried quickly. And she fell to teasing. "No, poor old Jim was thinking of his bullocks when he saw her."

"What should I have thought about, the cattle or Moll Gregory?"

"Neither. You should have been thinking of me. I see you know her name."

"Yes, I've learned that."

King shut up the ledger with a bang. "That's enough for Saturday. What's next? A smoke, a drink or the coach? I vote a drink."

"I vote the coach," Maud cried.

"Here's a cigarette," said Power. "You must find it hot here of an afternoon."

"I do. The sun gets round on to the wall, and I feel as charitable as a woman with an empty woodbox."

"You ought to give up this uncomfortable bachelor life, Mr. King," said Maud. "You ought to go down South and marry some nice girl."