The Making of a Prig

e the greatest mystery in the neighbourhood. Such a reputation was entirely unsought on his part, alth

easonable that a man of this calibre, suddenly placed in a quiet country parish, should end in making some sort of a sensation there. Miss Esther from the beginning had suffered much, and silently; but a man who had a father in Crockford and a mother in Debrett, was to be forgiven a good deal, and she felt compelled to overlook even the ash of his cigar

en, jerking his thumb in the direction of the lame man, who had just swung

said the Rector vaguely. "He has qui

odigality that might have been attributed to Miss Esther's absence at the Sunday school. There was

osition which allowed him to shout occasional answers to the questions that came from Katharine on the other side of the lawn.

l silence, and I just have to go; but sometimes he is inclined to be chatty, and then he makes a delightful companion. But the odd thing is, that I know no more about the man himself a

ter Bunce took a long pull at the whiskey, and brushed the cigar ash f

never a father, now? There's a won'erful lot to be gathered from knowing of a man's father, there is. Like enough he's one o' they London folk, as daren't speak aloud for fear of its gettin

hing short of a genius, sir! He is the best authority we have on the numisma

sir, pretty ofte

nother cigar, with an apprehension that aros

ol; oh, yes, we know all about that. But if you had read Wilton's 'Copper Tokens,' you wou

this morning," said Ted, in a tone of forced merriment. He still had

he Rector. "That was the same date that the fifth edition of the 'Copper Tokens' was issued, s

with a mental calculation. The churchwarden was the first to gi

ubstituted his pipe for the unusual cigar. "'Cause why? Some folk's old when they

ut Ted threw in a

he is, but he's as played out

was too deep in his Crockford to hear what was passing; but the d

, directing his remark to the boy on the window ledge. "T

ithout him for another moment. What they all see in him, I don't know. I suppose it's because I'm such a rotten ass, but he seems just like anybody else to

d Ted laughed as if he were a little

e pal-he's not any great shakes, I expect; but Wilton swears he knows a lot about coins, and of course that will fetch the Rector. Fact is, this place is getting too clever for me. There's Kitty, who rots about poetry and thin

took an abrupt departure; and the churchwarden refused a curt invitation to tea, and went hastily after him. Ted lingered a moment or two, without being not

asurable sensation, Paul had no reason to play the invalid; and, except for an occasional limp, there was nothing in his walk to indicate lameness. There was the usual inexplicable smile on his face, however, as he listened to the bantering conversation of the man at his side, and occasionally

e had just left them, and they could hear her laughing with her father indoors. Paul murmur

've been in his shoes many a time, and I know what it feels like. He's got a lot to teach her, that's certain, eh? Doesn't interest you, I suppose! If it had been me, now, chained here with a broken

ul; "she is n

rd, I 'm quite inclined to envy that boy. Just imagine a veritable woman, still thinking herself a child, with a delightfu

ought to know better, Heaton, at your time of life," said Paul, in a jesting manner th

'm not ashamed of it either, not I! Seriously, though, I'm quite interested in our little love story yonder. I

served Paul. "But I don't see why we

y bring back my youth to me, and remind me of my lost happiness. Oh, life! what you once held for me! And no

e him off. It was generally true that his sentimental egotism bored Paul excessively, and yet he found something to like in a nature that was so unlike his own; and he was so secretive himself that the artless confidences of Heaton, if a little wearisome, at least relieved him of the necessity of adding to the conversation. Bes

n do much in these cases. Perhaps it would be better to leave them alone; an

all very well for an old reprobate like yourself to spend your time in reviving your lost youth, but I haven

ghed good-

always interests me. But you wait until your time comes;

antic," sug

things in life go by, but I shouldn't call you inexperienced. You've got a finished way with women that always appeals to them;

t?" smi

ve in marriage, hanged if I don't! and it's been the making o

stood for a moment in silence, looking over the lawn that had just acquired its fresh bloom of green. Katharin

t," said Paul involuntarily, "and her surroundings

nder? She is the only bit of life and prettiness about the place, and she never meets her equal. T

te tone, "and she is fairly well read, and knows how to expr

ou before, a prig is made in three ways. First of all, she is made by her own people, if she happens to be clever; and secondly, by the world, if she happen

window and disappeared in the direction of the summer-house.

Heaton blandly, "she do

himself wi

atch. "Didn't you promise to go and look at

tes he had joined Kathar