The Bishops had retired when we reached the old house, but Wallace came to the door, book in hand.  Naturally he was surprised to see us at that hour, and he was even more surprised when Carter told him the object of our visit.

“We are not authorised to make you a definite offer to-night,” said Carter.  “I am chairman of the committee, and if you care to consider the matter seriously we suggest that you play a round with our present professional, Kirkaldy, to-morrow afternoon.  If your work is satisfactory, as I have no doubt it will be from what Smith has said of you, the place is yours at the same salary and the same perquisites received by Kirkaldy.”

“And what are these?” asked Wallace, a twinkle in his eye which I had noticed on several occasions.  It was a peculiar combination of shrewdness, curiosity, and amusement, but one could not take offence at it.  He certainly is an odd fish, and I like him even if I do not understand him.

“One hundred dollars a month with room and board, and all you can earn giving lessons,” said Carter.  “Kirkaldy averages three hundred dollars a month, and could have made more had he not been lazy.”

“That certainly is a tempting chance for one who is getting twenty dollars a month,” observed Wallace, after a long pause.  “I like it here, and will not leave Mr. Bishop without due notice, but if you can obtain my release and can positively assure me that my amateur standing will not be impaired I will try to qualify for the position you offer.  I don’t mind telling you,” he added, and I noticed the same odd twinkle in his eyes, “that there was a time, and I hope it will recur, when I thought much of playing the game in a non-professional capacity.  That, however, is amongst ourselves, and if I become your professional I shall attend strictly to my business.”

The following morning I saw Mr. Bishop, who informed me that Wallace had already related the purport of our visit the preceding evening.

“I’ll tell you how I look at it, Jack,” the old man said.  “He’s not an awful good hired man, but he’s willin’ and eager to learn, and has the makings of the best one in the county, but mor’n that he is a real gentleman, and good company for mother and me, and I hate like the mischief to lose him.  But Lord bless ye, if he can make three hundred dollars a month teaching you fools how to hit a ball with a stick, why I ain’t got no call to keep him here.  That’s as much money as I make out of this whole blamed farm, and I have to work and not play for a livin’.  If Wallace is the man you want, take him, and I won’t put a straw in his way.  Only I hope you’ll sorter hint to him that we’d take it kindly if he’d make it a point to drop over here once in a while and take supper with mother and me, and stay all night, if he’d care to.  Will you do that, Jack?”

I heartily promised I would, and felt as guilty as if I had stolen some of Bishop’s prize sheep.  I went down the fields and told Wallace the old man had consented to release him, and that Kirkaldy would be on hand at the club to play a trial round at two o’clock.