“Who⁠ ⁠… are⁠ ⁠… you⁠ ⁠… if⁠ ⁠… you⁠ ⁠… don’t⁠ ⁠… mind⁠ ⁠… my⁠ ⁠… asking?”

“Not at all, Mr. Valley. I am the new secretary at the Squire’s.”

The man stopped dead-still in the road; and, in natural politeness, Wolf stopped too.

“You are⁠ ⁠… the⁠ ⁠… other⁠ ⁠… one⁠ ⁠… Then⁠ ⁠… I⁠ ⁠… must⁠ ⁠… see you later⁠ ⁠… I buried him.⁠ ⁠… I said prayers for him every day⁠ ⁠… He⁠ ⁠… was⁠ ⁠… very kind to me. I must see you⁠ ⁠… later.⁠ ⁠…” Having uttered these words, the Vicar seemed to gather up out of the dark some new kind of strength; for he moved forward by Wolf’s side with a firmer step.

For nearly half a mile they walked side by side in silence.

Then the quavering voice out of the obscurity began again.