"I was at school then."
"That don't put my chaff in the bag."
Maud came to the front. "That's enough, father. I hope the horse had a good dinner. It does the Company good to give away a little chaff. How is the book getting on?"
Mr. Smith shook his head. "According to the time-table the third chapter would have been finished this week, but everything is turning out against it. I am afraid this life isn't conducive to study, and my unfortunate poverty precludes me from obtaining the necessary reference books. Directly I sit down, there's the dog to put out, or the cat to put in, and, honestly, as my name is Pericles Smith——"
"Perry!" a woman's voice called from somewhere, "there's a wretched goat at the flour."
"Instantly, darling." Mr. Smith closed his eyes. "I live in the hope of getting an hour to myself one day; but for ten years——"
"Perry, there's another goat joining it."
"At once, dear. I suppose I shall write the words 'Chapter Four' some day, but——"
"Well, I'm not going to stay here while you chatter any longer," interrupted the old man, moving off, "and you, Smith, you look after that horse of yours or ye'll find yourself reading a pretty long bill."
They came away with Smith still in the doorway.