EXPLANATORY About two o'clock Geoffrey rose, and with some slight assistance from his reverend host, struggled into his clothes.

Then he lunched, and while he did so Mr.Granger poured his troubles into his sympathetic ear.
"My father was a Herefordshire farmer, Mr.Bingham," he said, "and I was bred up to that line of life myself.

He did well, my father did, as in those days a careful man might.

What is more, he made some money by cattle-dealing, and I think that turned his head a little; anyway, he was minded to make 'a gentleman of me,' as he called it.

So when I was eighteen I was packed off to be made a parson of, whether I liked it or no.