It was the idea of herself being deputy to the lovely, meddlesome, and arrogant Countess of Chell that had appealed to Clara.

The deputy of a Countess at length spoke.

‘Will Harry be late at the works again to-night?’ she asked in her colder, small-talk manner, which committed her to nothing, as Josiah well knew.

Her way of saying that word ‘Harry’ was inimitably significant.  She gave it an air.  She liked Harry, and she liked Harry’s name, because it had a Kensingtonian sound.  Harry, so accomplished in business, was also a dandy, and he was a dog.  ’My stepson’—­she loved to introduce him, so tall, manly, distinguished, and dandiacal.  Harry, enriched by his own mother, belonged to a London club; he ran down to Llandudno for week-ends; and it was reported that he had been behind the scenes at the Alhambra.  Clara felt for the word ‘Harry’ the unreasoning affection which most women lavish on ‘George.’

‘Like as not,’ said Josiah.  ’I haven’t been to the works this afternoon.’

Another silence fell, and then Josiah, feeling himself unable to bear any further suspense as to his wife’s real mood and temper, suddenly determined to tell her all about the geese, and know the worst.  And precisely at the instant that he opened his mouth, the maid opened the door and announced: 

’Mr. Duncalf wishes to see you at once, sir.  He won’t keep you a minute.’

‘Ask him in here, Mary,’ said the Deputy-Mayoress sweetly; ’and bring another cup and saucer.’

Mr. Duncalf was the Town Clerk of Bursley:  legal, portly, dry, and a little shy.

’I won’t stop, Curtenty.  How d’ye do, Mrs. Curtenty?  No, thanks, really——­’ But she, smiling, exquisitely gracious, flattered and smoothed him into a chair.

‘Any interesting news, Mr. Duncalf?’ she said, and added:  ’But we’re glad that anything should have brought you in.’

‘Well,’ said Duncalf, ’I’ve just had a letter by the afternoon post from Lord Chell.’

‘Oh, the Earl!  Indeed; how very interesting.’

‘What’s he after?’ inquired Josiah cautiously.

’He says he’s just been appointed Governor of East Australia—­announcement ’ll be in to-morrow’s papers—­and so he must regretfully resign the mayoralty.  Says he’ll pay the fine, but of course we shall have to remit that by special resolution of the Council.’

‘Well, I’m damned!’ Josiah exclaimed.

‘Topham!’ Mrs. Curtenty remonstrated, but with a delightful acquitting dimple.  She never would call him Josiah, much less Jos.  Topham came more easily to her lips, and sometimes Top.

‘Your husband,’ said Mr. Duncalf impressively to Clara, ’will, of course, have to step into the Mayor’s shoes, and you’ll have to fill the place of the Countess.’  He paused, and added:  ’And very well you’ll do it, too—­very well.  Nobody better.’

The Town Clerk frankly admired Clara.