Chapter 7 - Page 2

house
below, and Jim watched the man with the interest excited by a belief
that he had come on a personal matter. On nearer approach Jim
recognized him as the gardener at Mount Lodge some miles away. If
this meant business, the Baron (of whose arrival Jim had vaguely
heard) was a new and unexpected customer.

It meant nothing else, apparently. The man's errand was simply to
inform Jim that the Baron required a load of lime for the garden.

'You might have saved yourself trouble by leaving word at Mr.
Vine's,' said Jim.

'I was to see you personally,' said the gardener, 'and to say that
the Baron would like to inquire of you about the different qualities
of lime proper for such purposes.'

'Couldn't you tell him yourself?' said Jim.

'He said I was to tell you that,' replied the gardener; 'and it
wasn't for me to interfere.'

No motive other than the ostensible one could possibly be conjectured
by Jim Hayward at this time; and the next morning he started with
great pleasure, in his best business suit of clothes. By eleven
o'clock he and his horse and cart had arrived on the Baron's
premises, and the lime was deposited where directed; an exceptional
spot, just within view of the windows of the south front.

Baron von Xanten, pale and melancholy, was sauntering in the sun on
the slope between the house and the all-the-year-round. He looked
across to where Jim and the gardener were standing, and the identity
of Hayward being established by what he brought, the Baron came down,
and the gardener withdrew.

The Baron's first inquiries were, as Jim had been led to suppose they
would be, on the exterminating effects of lime upon slugs and snails
in its different conditions of slaked and unslaked, ground and in the
lump. He appeared to be much interested by Jim's explanations, and
eyed the young man closely whenever he had an opportunity.

'And I hope trade is prosperous with you this year,' said the Baron.

'Very, my noble lord,' replied Jim, who, in his uncertainty on the
proper method of address, wisely concluded that it was better to err
by giving too much honour than by giving too little. 'In short,
trade is looking so well that I've become a partner in the firm.'

'Indeed; I am glad to hear it. So now you are settled in life.'

'Well, my lord; I am hardly settled, even now. For I've got to
finish it--I mean, to get married.'

'That's an easy matter, compared with the partnership.'

'Now a man might think so, my baron,' said Jim, getting more
confidential. 'But the real truth is, 'tis the hardest part of all
for me.'

'Your suit prospers, I hope?'

'It don't,' said Jim. 'It don't at all just at present. In short, I