"Then, why cut it? You ought to be able to make a machine that would
fit into a boat with screws, or be stuck like a box under the thwarts."
"Yes, so I might. I didn't think of that," cried Vane, eagerly. "I'll
try it."
"There," said Macey, "that comes of having a clever chap at your elbow
like yours most obediently. Halves!"
"Eh?"
"I say, halves! I invented part of the machine, and I want to share.
But when are you going to begin old Syme's conservatory?"
"Oh, dear!" sighed Vane. "I'd forgotten that. Come along. Let's try
and think out the paddles as you propose. I fancy one might get
something like a fish's tail to propel a boat."
"What, by just waggling?"
"It seems to me to be possible."
"Come on, and let's do it then," cried Macey, starting to trot along the
road. "I want to get the taste of Distin out of my mouth.--I say--"
"Well?"
"Don't I wish his mother wanted him so badly that he was obliged to go
back to the West Indies at once.--Hallo! Going to the wood?"
"Yes, I don't mean to be beaten over those fungi we had the other day,"
cried Vane; and to prove that he did not, he inveigled Macey into
accompanying him into the woods that afternoon, to collect another
basketful--his companion assisting by nutting overhead, while Vane
busied himself among the moss at the roots of the hazel stubs.
"Going to have those for supper?" said Macey, as they were returning.
Vane shook his head. "I suppose I mustn't take these home to-day after
all."
"Look here, come on with me to the rectory, and give 'em to Mr Syme."
"Pooh!--Why, he laughed at them."
"But you can tell him you had some for dinner at the Little Manor. I
won't say anything."
"I've a good mind to, for I've read that they are delicious if properly
cooked," cried Vane. "No, I don't like to. But I should like to give
them to someone, for I don't care to see them wasted."
"Do bring them to the rectory, and I'll coax Distie on into eating some.
He will not know they are yours; and, if they upset him, he will not be
of so much consequence as any one else."
But Vane shook his head as they walked thoughtfully back.
"I know," he cried, all at once; "I'll give them to Mrs Bruff."
"But would she cook them?"
"Let's go and see. What time is it?"
"Half-past four," said Macey.
"Plenty of time before he gets home from work."
Vane started off at such a rate that Macey had to cry out for respite as
they struck out of the wood, and reached a lane where, to their
surprise, they came plump upon the gipsies camped by the roadside, with
a good fire burning, and their miserable horse cropping the grass in
peace.
The first objects their eyes lit upon were the women who were busily
cooking; and Vane advanced and offered his basket of vegetable
treasures, but they all laughed and shook their heads, and the oldest
woman of the party grunted out the word "poison."
"There," said Macey, as they went along the lane, "you hear. They ought
to know whether those are good or no. If they were nice, do you think
the gipsies would let them rot in the woods."
"But, you see, they don't know," said Vane quietly, and then he gripped
his companion's arm. "What's that?" he whispered.
"Some one talking in the wood."
"Poaching perhaps," said Vane, as he peered in amongst the trees.
Just then the voice ceased, and there was a rustling in amongst the
bushes at the edge of the wood, as if somebody was forcing his way
through, and resulting in one of the gipsy lads they had before seen,
leaping out into the narrow deep lane, followed by the other.
The lads seemed to be so astonished at the encounter that they stood
staring at Vane and Macey for a few moments, then looked at each other,
and then, as if moved by the same impulse, they turned and rushed back
into the wood, and were hidden from sight directly.
"What's the matter with them?" said Vane. "They must have been at some
mischief."
"Mad, I think," said Macey. "All gipsies are half mad, or they wouldn't
go about, leading such a miserable life as they do. Song says a gipsy's
life is a merry life. Oh, is it? Nice life in wet, cold weather. They
don't look very merry, then."
"Never mind: it's nothing to do with us. Come along."
Half-an-hour's walking brought them into the open fields, and as they
stood at the end of the lane in the shade of an oak tree, Macey said
suddenly:
"I say, there's old Distie yonder. Where has he been? Bet twopence it
was to see the gipsies and get his fortune told."
"For a walk as far as here, perhaps, and now he is going back."
Macey said it "seemed rum," and they turned off then to reach Bruff's
cottage, close to the little town.
"I don't see anything rum in it," Vane said, quietly.
"Don't you? Well, I do. Gilmore was stopping back to keep him company,
wasn't he? Well, where is Gilmore? And why is Distie cutting along
so--at such a rate?"
Vane did not reply, and Macey turned to look at him wonderingly.
"Here! Hi! What's the matter?"
Vane started.
"Matter?" he said, "nothing."
"What were you thinking about? Inventing something?"
"Oh, no," said Vane, confusedly. "Well, I was thinking about something
I was making."
"Thought so. Well, I am glad I'm not such a Hobby-Bob sort of a fellow
as you are. Syme says you're a bit of a genius, ever since you made his
study clock go; but you're the worst bowler, batter, and fielder I know;
you're not worth twopence at football; and if one plays at anything else
with you--spins a top, or flies a kite, or anything of that kind--you're
never satisfied without wanting to make the kite carry up a load, or
making one top spin on the top of another, and--"
"Take me altogether, I'm the most cranky, disagreeable fellow you ever
knew, eh?" said Vane, interrupting.
"Show me anyone who says so, and I'll punch his head," cried Macey,
eagerly.
"There he goes. No; he's out of sight now."
"What, old Distie? Pooh! he's nobody, only a creole, and don't count."
The gardener's cottage stood back from the road; its porch covered with
roses, and the little garden quite a blaze of autumn flowers; and as
they reached it, Vane paused for a moment to admire them.
"Hallo!" cried Macey, "going to improve 'em?"
"They don't want it," said Vane, quietly. "I was thinking that you
always see better flowers in cottage gardens than anywhere else."
At that moment the gardener's wife came to the door, smiling at her
visitors, and Vane recollected the object of his visit.
"I've brought you these, Mrs Bruff," he said.
"Toadstools, sir?" said the woman, opening her eyes widely.
"No; don't call them by that name," cried Macey, merrily; "they're
philogustators."
"Kind of potaters, sir?" said the woman, innocently. "Are they for Eben
to grow?"
"No, for you to cook for his tea. Don't say anything, but stew them
with a little water and butter, pepper and salt."
"Oh, thank you, sir," cried the woman. "Are they good?"
"Delicious, if you cook them well."
"Indeed I will, sir. Thank you so much."
She took the basket, and wanted to pay for the present with some
flowers, but the lads would only take a rosebud each, and went their
way, to separate at the turning leading to the rectory gate.