A pheasant appeared by the roadside, and the Respectable Tramp immediately caught up a stone and sent the bird clucking with a viciously accurate shot. Then he disappeared round the corner.
§ 31
"I heard some one playing the fiddle in the Vicarage as I came by," said Mrs. Jehoram, taking her cup of tea from Mrs. Mendham.
"The Vicar plays," said Mrs. Mendham. "I have spoken to George about it, but it's no good. I do not think a Vicar should be allowed to do such things. It's so foreign. But there, he…"
"I know, dear," said Mrs. Jehoram. "But I heard the Vicar once at the schoolroom. I don't think this was the Vicar. It was quite clever, some of it, quite smart, you know. And new. I was telling dear Lady Hammergallow this morning. I fancy———"
"The lunatic! Very likely. These half-witted people.… My dear, I don't think I shall ever forget that dreadful encounter. Yesterday."
"Nor I."
"My poor girls! They are too shocked to say a word about it. I was telling dear Lady Ham———"
"Quite proper of them. It was dreadful, dear. For them."
"And now, dear, I want you to tell me frankly—Do you really believe that creature was a man?"
"You should have heard the violin."
"I still more than half suspect, Jessie—" Mrs. Mendham leaned forward as if to whisper.
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