Page:Herbert Jenkins - Return of Alfred.djvu/88



N his return to The Grange, Smith immediately went in search of Willis, finally running him to earth in Alfred's bedroom.

As he entered, the old man turned, a trouser- stretcher in his hand.

"I've been looking for you everywhere, Willis." "I'm sorry, Mr. Alfred, if I wasn't"

"Oh ! it's all right," said Smith, sinking into a chair, striking a match and proceeding to light a cigarette. "What do the Little Bilsteadians mean by Bob Thir- kettle's mawther?"

With a crash the trouser-stretcher fell to the floor. At the sight of Willis' face, Smith sprang to his feet and went over to him. In a flash the butler seemed to have become ten years older. He was trembling vio- lently, the colour had gone from his face, and in his eyes there was fear. He appeared on the point of col- lapse, and Smith led him over to the chair which he himself had just vacated. Fetching a glass of water, he held it to Willis' grey lips.

"I'm awfully sorry," he said soothingly, as the butler swallowed a little of the water, gazing with wide-open eyes at Smith as he did so. "I didn't mean to upset you." 84