"One has to be so very careful," said the very eldest Miss Papaver. "He told me he is in love with the Vicar's housemaid!" said Mrs Jehoram. "I almost laughed in his face." "The Vicar ought _never_ to have brought him here," said Mrs Rathbone-Slater with decision. THE TROUBLE OF THE BARBED WIRE. XXXVIII. So, ingloriously, ended the Angel's first and last appearance in Society. Vicar and Angel returned to the Vicarage; crestfallen black figures in the bright sunlight, going dejectedly. The Angel, deeply pained that the Vicar was pained. The Vicar, dishevelled and desperate, intercalating spasmodic remorse and apprehension with broken explanations of the Theory of Etiquette. "They do _not_ understand," said the Vicar over and over again. "They will all be so very much aggrieved. I do not know what to say to them. It is all so confused, so perplexing." And at the gate of the Vicarage, at the very spot where Delia had first seemed beautiful, stood Horrocks the village constable, awaiting them. He held coiled up about his hand certain short lengths of barbed wire. "Good evening, Horrocks," said the Vicar as the constable held the gate open. "Evenin', Sir," said Horrocks, and added in a kind of mysterious undertone, "_Could_ I speak to you a minute, Sir?" "Certainly," said the Vicar. The Angel walked on thoughtfully to the house, and meeting Delia in the hall stopped her and cross-examined her at length over differences between Servants and Ladies. "You'll excuse my taking the liberty, Sir," said Horrocks, "but there's trouble brewin' for that crippled gent you got stayin' here." "Bless me!" said the Vicar. "You don't say so!" "Sir John Gotch, Sir. He's very angry indeed, Sir. His language, Sir----. But I felt bound to tell you, Sir. He's certain set on taking out a summons on account of that there barbed wire. Certain set, Sir, he is." "Sir John Gotch!" said the Vicar. "Wire! I don't understand." "He asked me to find out who did it. Course I've had to do my duty, Sir. Naturally a disagreeable one." "Barbed wire! Duty! I don't understand you, Horrocks." "I'm afraid, Sir, there's no denying the evidence. I've made careful enquiries, Sir." And forthwith the constable began telling the Vicar of a new and terrible outrage committed by the Angelic visitor.