Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 1.pdf/227

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THE WONDERFUL VISIT

The man with the barrow meditated. "'Taint as if 'e was a gentleman and 'adn't no livin' to get. An' 'e's such a reckless fool when 'e gets a bit on. Goes offerin' out every one 'e meets. (There you go!) I'm blessed if 'e didn't offer out a 'ole bloomin' Salvation Army. No judgment in it. (Oh! Carm on! Carm on!) 'Ave to go and pick this bloomin' 'at up now I s'pose. 'E don't care wot trouble 'e gives."

The Angel watched the second tinker walk back, and with affectionate blasphemy assist the first to his hat and his coat. Then he turned, absolutely mystified, towards the village again.

§ 27

After that incident the Angel walked along past the mill and round behind the church, to examine the tombstones.

"This seems to be the place where they put the broken pieces," said the Angel—reading the inscriptions. "Curious word—relict! Resurgam! Then they are not done with quite. What a huge pile it requires to keep her down… It is spirited of her.

"Hawkins?" said the Angel softly,… "Hawkins? The name is strange to me… He did not die then… It is plain enough,—Joined the Angelic Hosts, May 17, 1863. He must have felt as much out of place as I do down here. But I wonder why they put that little pot thing on the top of this monument. Curious! There are several others

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