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During tea Mr. Tellwright interrupted his perusal of the evening ‘Signal’ to give utterance to a rather remarkable speech.

‘Bless us!’ he said. ‘Th’ old trumpeter ‘ll turn the town upside down!’

‘Do you mean the revivalist, father?’ Anna asked.

‘Ay!’

‘He’s a beautiful man,’ Agnes exclaimed with enthusiasm. ‘Our teacher showed us his portrait after school this afternoon. I never saw such a beautiful man.’

Her father gazed hard at the child for an instant, cup in hand, and then turned to Anna with a slightly sardonic air.

‘What are you doing i’ this Revival, Anna?’

‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Only there’s a teachers’ meeting about it to-morrow night, and I have to go to that. Young Mr. Price mentioned it to me specially to-day.’

A pause followed.

‘Didst get anything out o’ Price?’ Tellwright asked.

‘Yes; he gave me ten pounds. He wants you to go and look over the works—says they’re falling to pieces.’

‘Cheque, I reckon?’

She corrected the surmise.

‘Better give me them notes, Anna,’ he said after tea. ‘I’m going to th’ Bank i’ th’ morning, and I’ll pay ‘em in to your account.’