At half-past three Meldon arrived.
"You seem," he said to the men, "to be taking things pretty easy. Are
you supposed to be mowing that lawn, or is Mr. Simpkins paying you to
cut the legs off any tiger or other wild beast that comes up with the
idea of devouring Miss King in her sleep?"
The men grinned pleasantly, and put their pipes in their pockets.
"It's how we didn't like to be disturbing the young lady," said the
elder of the two men, "and her lying there quiet and innocent, maybe
tired out, the creature, with the way she's been travelling to and fro."
"Isn't it Callaghan your name is?" said Meldon.
"It is. Glory be to God! but it's wonderful the way you'd know me, Mr.
Meldon, and you out of the place these three years."
"Send that other man away," said Meldon, "and listen to me while I
speak to you."
"Mickey," said Callaghan to his fellow-labourer, "let you be off with
you and get the potatoes earthed up beyond in the garden. It's
wonderful, so it is, the way you'd take a delight in sitting there all
day and not doing a hand's turn."
Mickey went off, still grinning. He had no intention of earthing up
the potatoes.
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