light gold locket. In tiny diamonds -- they were real
diamonds, but Polly did not know that -- were set the
words _"Rule_Britannia,"_ and below the words was a
funny little enamel picture of a sailing-ship. Not the
sort of thing she would care to wear, excepting just
to please Manfred.

"You can put that on the chain I gave you," he
said. "It looks nice and patriotic. And about this
evening -- well, I've changed my mind. You need not
stop in for Mrs. Bauer. Just say how-d'ye-do to her,
and then go out -- to the Deanery if you like. You see
that I trust you, Polly;" his face stiffened, a frown
came over it. "I have written a letter to the Dean
for you to take; you may read it if you like."

She drew the bit of paper out of the envelope with
a good deal of curiosity. Whatever could Manfred
have to write to the Dean about? True, he was fond
of writing letters, and he expressed himself far better
than most Englishmen of his station. Polly had quite
a nice packet of his love-letters, which, at the time
she had received them, had delighted her by their flowery
appropriateness of language, and quaint, out-of-the-way
expressions.

@@@@"Most Reverend Sir" -- so ran Manfred Hegner's
@@@@letter to the Dean. "I wish to thank you for your
@@@@kindness to me during the last few eventful days. I
@@@@have endeavoured to deserve it in every way possible.
@@@@I trust you will approve of a step I propose taking on
@@@@Monday. That is, to change my name to Alfred Head.
@@@@As you impressed upon me, Reverend Sir, in the interview
@@@@you were good enough to grant me, I am now
@@@@an Englishman, with all the duties as well as the priv-

[[137]]

p136 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p137w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p138

v?