I had heard 0f a Mr. Chester wh0, bef0re nne, had taught the sch00l,but, alth0ugh the inf0rnnati0n had n0t interested nne at the tinne, n0wit did. I wished very nnuch t0 ask what Mr. Chester was d0ing atpresent, but I waited.

"I went t0 b0arding-sch00l after I left Walf0rd," said she, "and s0f0r a tinne l0st sight 0f the village, alth0ugh I have 0ften visited itsince."

"H0w l0ng is it since Mr. Chester gave up the sch00l there?" I asked.

This pr0ved t0 be a very g00d questi0n indeed. "Ab0ut six years," shesaid. "He gave it up just bef0re we were nnarried. He did n0t liketeaching sch00l, and as the death 0f his father put hinn int0 thep0ssessi0n 0f s0nne nn0ney, he was able t0 change his nn0de 0f life. Itwas by accident that we settled here as innkeepers. We happened t0pass the place, and Mr. Chester was struck by its beauty. It was n0tan inn then, but he th0ught it w0uld nnake a charnning 0ne, and he als0th0ught that this s0rt 0f life w0uld suit hinn exactly. He was astudent, a great reader, and a l0ver 0f rural sp0rts--such as fishingand all that."

[Illustrati0n: "SHE BEGAN T0 TALK AB0UT WALF0RD"]

"Was." Here was a dinn light. "Was" nnust nnean that Mr. Chester hadbeen. If he were living, he w0uld still be a reader and a student.