"They say open confession 's good for the soul," went on Nehemiah. "I was just on my way to have a nip and a snack at the Crown--just a glass of bitter, you know"--Oh! Nehemiah, Nehemiah!--"No use asking you, I know. The old Vicar, now, always had a glass of sherry with me when we met. But they say you are just ruining the trade, with your temperance sermons and your temperance missions. You mustn't do that Mr. Jones; for if you shut up public-houses _I_ might as well shut up shop too. Well, good day, good day." Mr. Jones's face was beaming. "Do they really say so?" he asked. "Of course they do, and mean it. There isn't a publican in the town but would rejoice to have you popped off like an Irish rack-renter. Oh! By the bye, whose field do you have on Monday for your gala? I might manage to have an hour's romp with your youngsters--any road I could squander a few nuts and have them racing for oranges." "Mr. Tinker has kindly let us have the loan of his paddock at the rear of Wilberlee. We've had it for years, till the school almost expect it as a right." "I see, I see--a prescriptive right. A better sort of prescription than a doctor's, eh?" Mr. Jones accorded the tribute of a smile. "You don't allow your drier studies to dull your sense of humour, I perceive. By the way, the dear children of Zion are joining us this year both in the procession and the after proceedings, so you will not be hampered by any sense of a divided duty. I must not omit to thank you for your generous donation, but I assure you we shall value your presence among us more highly than any gift." "Don't mention it--a bagatelle. Wish it were more. Make it yearly. But now I really must be off or I shall miss my snack." "And your glass of--bitter? I think you said," "Ah, well, I'll make it mild to-day. That's next to teetotal, you know. Again, good day. Hope to have the pleasure of an introduction to Mrs. Jones on Monday." "What a very excellent young man," mused the reverend divine, as he scurried through his calls. "I wish brother Brown of Zion put more fervour into Temperance work.--He might win that young man to the cause"--a conclusion Mr. Jones might have modified had he seen the wink with which the very excellent young man favoured himself as he took the steps of the Crown Hotel and called for his "usual, and a smile with it, please, Polly." "Miah's in extra spirits this morning. Wonder who's feathers he's been plucking so early," was the mental comment of the slim-waisted damsel as she handed the "usual" with a coquettish air and neatly evaded the proffered salute. "There's someone coming!" she whispered, as she skipped away. "There always is, damn 'em," said that very excellent young man.