ODOUR OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS

non ower theer ! "* -- he jerked his head to signify
the " Prince of Wales."

" 'E's 'appen gone up to th' ' Yew,' "* said Mrs.
Rigley.

There was another pause. Rigley had evidently
something to get off his mind :

" Ah left 'im finishin' a stint* ," he began. " Loose-
all* 'ad bin gone about ten minutes when we com'n
away* , an' I shouted, ' Are ter comin'* , Walt ? ' an'
'e said, ' Go on, Ah shanna be but a'ef a minnit,* ' so
we com'n ter th' bottom* , me an' Bowers, thinkin'
as 'e wor* just behint, an' 'ud come up i' th' next
bantle* ---- "

He stood perplexed, as if answering a charge of
deserting his mate. Elizabeth Bates, now again
certain of disaster, hastened to reassure him :

" I expect 'e's gone up to th' ' Yew Tree,'* as you
say. It's not the first time. I've fretted myself
into a fever before now. He'll come home when
they carry him."

" Ay, isn't it too bad! " deplored the other
woman.

" I'll just step up to Dick's an' see if 'e is theer,"
offered the man, afraid of appearing alarmed, afraid
of taking liberties.

" Oh, I wouldn't think of bothering you that
far," said Elizabeth Bates, with emphasis, but he
knew she was glad of his offer.

As they stumbled up the entry, Elizabeth Bates
heard Rigley's wife run across the yard and open
her neighbour's door. At this, suddenly all the
blood in her body seemed to switch away from her
heart.