Peter left the pub chuckling to himself , highly thankful for the warning that Jane had given him. He knew that she would enjoy his tale of the putting down of those who tried to put other people down.

He also realised that she was a good ally to have in feeling his way through the intricate personality relationships within the village . He preferred to make his own judgments , but a guideline was frequently very valuable . For instance , he thought to himself , I must ask about the florist woman . He was pretty sure that it was she who had eyed him off while he was in the cafe , but he could not be entirely sure .

As he passed the shop he noticed a man looking particularly frustrated standing outside the door , which bore the sign CLOSED and shouting that he knew someone was in there . The man knocked furiously , but Peter had passed before there was any result from his clamour .

Back at the George's house , he passed through , looking for Ernie , who however was not to be seen in the house and was not in his shed either , so Peter was temporarily frustrated from asking the question he wished to ask .

And then it struck him that , too wrapped in his own smug satisfaction over the pub incident , that the man at the door could well have been Ernie !

-- Oh well , he thought , back to The Wishing Well . I can find out there what I want to know .

This time it was Mrs George who was alone behind the counter .

Peter saluted her with a happy smile .

-- You'll be pleased to hear that I got a job at the Manor , he said .

-- I don't know if you were worried about me being able to pay the rent but you can rest assured now .

-- Oh . I wasn't all that worried , came the reply . Haven't you been asked to drop into the police station? I don't think all that much of that young man himself , but I think he does a good job . If there are likely to be any problems with you I think he'd be able to straighten you out. Better than that Sergeant , anyway.

-- Er ... right , said a slightly nonplussed Peter , who didn't quite know how to take what she had said .

-- But , he continued , I'm going to need some work clothes , and I haven't noticed any clothing shops around here .

--If you're not too fussy , said the lady , there's a hardware shop out past the McDonald's . They keep a lot of farm stuff and if I remember aright , they have overalls and farm boots. If they don't , it'll have to be a bus to the next town.

-- I'll try there first then , said Peter , and I'll go talk to the constable as I go past the police station . Thanks for that.

-- No trouble , said Mrs George .

-- So you'll be working at the Manor . What sort of a woman is she ? The Lady , I mean.

Peter kept himself from smiling . It looked to him that he was going to be very popular with some sections of the locals as a source of information about the Manor and its Lady .

-- Seems all right to me , he said .

-- You probably know more about her than I do . She had another visitor as I left there . Oldish bloke with a briefcase . Looks like a lawyer . He drives a lovely old Bentley . Real vintage gem . But I'd better get along if I 'm going to be checked up on.

-- Don't take too much lip from that young constable , said Mrs George.

-- He's a bit big for his boots.

-- I always try to stay on the right side of the law , quipped Peter .

-- And at the moment I am innocent of crime . My soul is pure.

And he laughed.

-- Get along with you then , said Mrs George. I expect you'll be having your evening meal here tonight?

-- Most likely . said Peter , and off he went to look for clothing and to bare his soul , but only as much as he felt might be necessary , to the local law .