By return he received a five pound note—­a convenient handy form of money, easy to send, easy to change.  Halgrave might not perhaps be able to give change for it without inconvenience, but Julia could get it changed next time she went into town.  That would not be just yet, but a note will keep; it would perhaps be better to keep it for the present.  The Captain folded it in his pocket-book and kept it.

CHAPTER XX

THE BENEFACTOR

It was not till October that Captain Polkington was able to change the five pound note.  This was really Julia’s fault, she went so seldom into the town; he had once or twice suggested her doing so when she said they wanted this or that, but she never took the hint, and the note was still in his pocket-book.  At last, however, the opportunity came.

A keeper’s wife with whom Julia had got acquainted had promised her a pair of lop-eared rabbits if she could come and fetch them.  She was not very anxious to have them, but Mr. Gillat was; he said they would be very profitable.  Julia doubted this; but, since he wanted them, she said they would have them, and accordingly, one morning, they started together with a basket for the rabbits.  They started directly after breakfast for they had to go a long way across the heath and could not at the best be back before two o’clock.  Captain Polkington watched them go, standing at the cottage door until their figures were small on the great expanse of heather.  Then he went in and, sitting down, wrote a hasty note to Julia; it was to the effect that he had been obliged to go into town, but would be back by dark or soon after.  It read as quite a casual communication, as if he were in the habit of going into town frequently and had much business to transact.  The Captain was rather satisfied with it; he felt he was doing the straightforward thing in telling Julia, his whole proceedings were open and above board.  When he came back he should tell her all about the money, how it had been raised and how spent.  She should have had the spending of it herself if only she had gone to town when he suggested it; as it was, he must do it; it was absurd to wait any longer; the weather was already cold; he must go, and bring her some pleasant surprise when he came back.

Satisfied with these reflections and feeling already the glow of beneficence, he dressed himself and set out for Halgrave.  He had to walk to the village and there take the carrier’s cart which went into town twice a week; he reflected, while he waited for the vehicle, how fortunate it was that Julia and Johnny had chosen to go for the rabbits to-day, one of the days when the carrier went to town.  There were a good many bundles going by the cart, and two other passengers who were inclined to be too familiar until somewhat haughtily shown their proper place.  The Captain was a little annoyed by this; and annoyed, also, to find that the carrier was not in the habit