Before the wild-looking man--whose name came to be known as Pike--had been in possession of the shed a fortnight, Jabez Gum had the holes in his shutters filled-in and painted over.

An additional security, said the neighbours: but poor timid Mrs.Gum could not overcome that first fright, and the very mention of the man set her trembling and quaking.
Nothing more was said of the dream or the apparition, real or fancied, of Lord Hartledon: Clerk Gum did not encourage the familiar handling of such topics in everyday life.

He breakfasted, devoted an hour to his own business in the little office, and then put on his coat to go out.

It was Friday morning.

On that day and on Wednesdays the church was open for baptisms, and it was the clerk's custom to go over at ten o'clock and apprize the Rector of any notices he might have had.
Passing in at the iron gates, the large white house rose before him, beyond the wide lawn.