Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 1.pdf/195

Rh The Angel shrugged his wings. "What is the matter with this man?" he said to the Vicar.

"My dear Mendham," said the Vicar, "a few words from me&hellip;"

"Surely my question is straightforward enough!"

"But you won't tell me the answer you want, and it's no good my telling you any other."

"Pshaw!" said the Curate again. And then turning suddenly on the Vicar: "Where does he come from?"

The Vicar was in a dreadful state of doubt by this time.

"He says he is an Angel!" said the Vicar. "Why don't you listen to him?"

"No angel would alarm four ladies&hellip;"

"Is that what it is all about?" said the Angel.

"Enough cause, too, I should think!" said the Curate.

"But I really did not know," said the Angel.

"This is altogether too much!"

"I am sincerely sorry I alarmed those ladies."

"You ought to be. But I see I shall get nothing out of you two." Mendham went towards the door. "I am convinced there is something discreditable at the bottom of this business. Or why not tell a simple straightforward story? I will confess you puzzle me. Why, in this enlightened age, you should tell this fantastic, this far-fetched story of an angel, altogether beats me. What good can it do?&hellip;"

"But stop and look at his wings!" said the Vicar. "I can assure you he has wings!"

Mendham had his fingers on the door-handle. "I 163