The Experiment

THE EXPERIMENT

In the last days of December Dr Hall, the village priest, was working in his study when his servant entered the room, in great alarm.
'Oh, Dr Hall, sir, 'she cried. 'What do you think? The poor Squire's dead!
'What? Squire Bowles? What are you saying, woman? 'replied the priest. 'I saw him only yesterday—'
‘Yes, sir, I know, 'said the servant, 'but it's true. Mr Wickem, theclerk, has just brought the news on his way to ring the church bell. You'll hear it yourself in a moment. Listen! There it is. 'And sure enough, the bell then began to ring, long and slow, telling the people of the village that someone had died.
Dr Hall stood up. 'This is terrible, 'he said 'I must go up to the Hall at once. The Squire was so much better yesterday. It seems so sudden. '
'Yes,sir, 'agreed the servant. 'Mr Wickem said that the poor Squire was taken ill very suddenly with a terrible pain. He died very quickly, and Wickem said they want him buried quickly too. '
'Yes, yes; well, I must ask Mrs Bowles herself of Mr Joseph, 'said the priest. 'Bring me my coat and hat, please. Oh, and tell Mr Wickem that I would like to see him when he has finished ringing the bell. 'And hehurried off to the Hall．
When he returned an hour later, he found the clerk waiting for him.
'There's a lot of work for you to do, Wickem, 'he said, and not much time to do it. '
'Yes, sir, 'said Wickem. 'You'll want the family tomb opened, of course…'
'No, no, not at all, 'replied Dr Hall. 'The poor Squire said before he died that he did not want to be buried in the family tomb. It is to bean earth grave in the churchyard. '
'Excuse me, sir, 'said Wickem, very surprised. 'Do I understand you right? No tomb, you say, and just an earth grave? The poor Squire was too ill to know what he was saying, surely?'
'Yes, Wickem, it seems strange to me too, 'said the priest. 'But Mr Joseph tells me that his father, or I should say his stepfather, made his wishes very clear when he was in goodhealth. Clean earth and open air. You know, of course, the Squire had some strange ideas, though he never told me of this one. And there's another thing, Wickem. No coffin. '
'Oh dear,oh dear! 'said Wickem. 'There'll be some talk about that. And I know that old Mr Wright has some lovely wood for the Squire's coffin—he's kept it for him for years. '
'Well, 'said Dr Hall, 'those are the Squire'swishes, so I'm told, so that's what we must do. You must get the grave dug and everything ready by ten o'clock tomorrow night. Tell Wright that we shall need some lights. '
'Very well, sir. If those are the orders, I must do my best, 'said Wickem. 'Shall I send the women from the village to prepare the body? '
'No, Wickem. That was not mentioned, 'said the priest. 'No doubt Mr Joseph will sendfor them if he wants them. You have enough work to do without that. Good night, Wickem. 'He paused. 'I was just writing out the year's burials in the church records. I didn't think that I'd have to add Squire Bowles' name to them. '
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The Squire's burial took place as planned. All the villagers and a few neighbours were present, and the Squire's stepson Joseph walked behind the body as it wascarried to the church- yard. In those days nobody expected the Squire's wife to come to the burial. The Squire had no family except his wife and stepson, and he had left everything to his wife.
But what was everything? The land, house, furniture, pictures, and sliver were all there, but no money was found. This was very strange. Squire Bowles was quite a rich man; he received plenty of money fromhis land every year, his lawyers were honest, but still there was no money, The Squire had not been mean with his money. His wife had all she needed, he sent Joseph to school and university, and he lived well. But still he earned more money than he spent. Where was it?
Mrs Bowles and her son searched the house and grounds several times but found no money. They could not understand it. They sat...