"Let bygones be bygones," said Jonas, and he dropped his hand. "Fine pictur' that, very like my wife. What, now, have you sold that for?" "It is not sold at all. I do not think I shall part with the painting." "Why not?" asked Jonas, with a malevolent twinkle in his eyes and a flush on his cheek-bones. "Because it is a good sample of my ability which I can show to such as come as customers, and also because it reminds me of an old friend." "Then you may take my portrait," said Jonas, "and sell this. Mine will do as well, and you knowed me afore you did Matabel." "That is true," laughed Iver, "but I am not sure that you would make so striking subject, so inspiring to the artist. Did you come all the way from the Punch-Bowl to see the painting?" "No, I didn't," answered Jonas. "Then had you business in the town?" "None particular." "Was it to give me the pleasure of seeing you and asking after old friends at Thursley?" "Old friends," sneered Bideabout; "much the like o' you cares for them as is old. It's the young and the bloomin' as is to your fancy. And I reckon it ain't friends as you would ask about, but a friend, and that's Matabel. Well, I don't mind tellin' of yer that she's got a baby, but I s'pose you've heard that, and the child ain't over strong and healthy, such as ort to be in the Punch-Bowl, where we're all hard as nails." "Aye, not in physique only?" "I don't know nothin about physic. I didn't take it when I were poorly, and nobody ever did in the Punch-Bowl as I've heard tell on. I sent once to Gorlmyn (Godalming) for a sleepin' draught, when I were bad wi' that shot in my shoulder as you knows of. But I never took it, not I." "So you've come to see me?" "Oh, yes, I've come, civil and neighbor-like, to see you." "What about? Will you sit down?" "Thanky, I just about like to stand. Yes, I've come to see you--on business." "On business!" "Yes, on business. You're trustee, I hear, for the child." "To be sure I am. Mother put away a hundred pounds, and father has added fifty to it--and it is for your little one, some day." "Well," said Jonas, "what I've come about is I wants it now." "What, the hundred and fifty pounds?" "Aye, I reckon the hundred and fifty pounds." "But the money is not left to you." "I know it b'aint; I want it for the child." "You are not going to have it." "Look here. Master Iver Verstage, you never ort to ha' been made trustee for my child. It's so much as puttin' a slight and an insult on me. If that child be mine then I'm the one as should have the trust. Don't I know best what the child wants? Don't I know best how to lay it out for its advantage? The money ort to ha' been put in my hands and in none other. That's my opinion." "Bideabout!" answered Iver, "it is not a question as to what my father and mother should have done. I did not seek to be made trustee. It was a freak on the part of my dear mother. As she has done it, there it is; neither you nor I can alter that."