HUMPHRIES REAPPEARS. 429 



settling day for the year's game account, and 

 when I settle that I'll settle the questioning 

 about the dogs. I don't believe the Squire has 

 ever questioned you about my doing my duty to 

 the dogs, as you say he has done, or has said 

 anything at all about me to you. What's more, 

 I just tell you that I was up among the 

 fir trees by the Black pond, and saw you 

 waiting for the Squire to come out of church, 

 I saw you meet him at the well, and he passed 

 on and never said a word to you ; yet you tell 

 me he stopped, and called you to ask about 

 me and the young dogs. I don't believe a 

 word you say.'' 



Humphries saw he had made a mistake, and 

 quickly altered his tone ; he begged me not 

 to mention the matter, and excused himself by 

 saying that the squire had accosted him as he 

 passed the house some time previously, and 

 had asked him if he had heard me say how the 

 young dog was getting on, and whether it was 

 likely to turn out a good one or not. So there 

 the matter ended. 



But Humphries could not remain quiet for 



