staring out of the window. "Oh! I'm all right."

The topic dropped for a time, though manifestly it continued to

exercise their minds.

It's cleared me out of a lot of old stock," said Mr. Wintershed;

that's one good thing."

The remark was felt to be in rather questionable taste, and still more

so was his next comment.

Rusper's a bit sick it didn't reach 'im."

Everyone looked uncomfortable, and no one was willing to point the

reason why Rusper should be a bit sick.

Rusper's been playing a game of his own," said Hinks. "Wonder what he

thought he was up to! Sittin' in the middle of the road with a pair of

tweezers he was, and about a yard of wire--mending somethin'. Wonder

he warn't run over by the Port Burdock engine."

Presently a little chat sprang up upon the causes of fires, and Mr.

Polly was moved to tell how it had happened for the one and twentieth

time. His story had now become as circumstantial and exact as the

evidence of a police witness. "Upset the lamp," he said. "I'd just

lighted it, I was going upstairs, and my foot slipped against where

249

The History of Mr Polly