“So you have houses in Water Lane, Mrs. Bungay?  I didn’t even know it!”

“Yes, Lady Rosamond!  My husband and I thought there was no better investment than to buy a bit of land, when the waste was inclosed, and run ’em up cheap.  Houses always lets here, you see, and the fire did no damage to that side.  But of course you didn’t know, Lady Rosamond; a real lady like you wouldn’t go prying into what she’s no call to, like that fine decked-out body Duncombe’s wife, which had best mind her own children, which it is a shame to see stravaging about the place!  I know it’s her doing, which I told young Mrs. Charnock Poynsett just now, which I’m right sorry to see led along by the like of her, and so are more of us; and we all wish some friend would give her a hint, which she is but young—­and ’tis doing harm to Mr. Charnock Poynsett, Lady Rosamond, which all of us have a regard for, as is but right, having been a good customer, and friend to the town, and all before him; but we can’t have ladies coming in with their fads and calling us names for not laying out on what’s no good to nobody, just to satisfy them!  As if Wil’sbro’ hadn’t been always healthy!”

Tom was wicked enough to put in a good many notes of sympathy, at the intervals of the conjunctive whiches, and to end by declaring, “Quite right, Mrs. Bungay!  You see how much better we’ve brought up my sister!  I say—­what’s the price of that little doll’s broom?”

“What do you want of it, Tom?”

“Never you mind!”

“No mischief, I hope?”

CHAPTER XVII The Enchantments

“It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
   “To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
   And made them trot so quick.” 
The carpenter said nothing, but
   “The butter’s spread too thick.”—­LEWIS CARROLL

A telegram arrived from Frank, in the midst of the preparations on
Wednesday, announcing that ’he was all right, and should be at
Hazlitt’s Gate at 8.10 p.m.’

At 6.30 children of all sizes, with manes of all colours, were arriving, and were regaled in the dining-room by Anne, assisted by Jenny and Charlie.  Anne had a pretty pink colour in her cheeks, her flaxen locks were bound with green ribbons, and green adorned her white dress, in which she had a gracious, lily-like look of unworldly purity.  She thoroughly loved children, was quite equal to the occasion, and indeed enjoyed it as much as the recent Christmas-tree in the village school.

Such of Cecil’s guests as were mothers for the most part came with their children; but Lady Tyrrell, her sister, and others, who were unattached, arrived later, and were shown to the library, where she entertained them on the specified refreshment, biscuits and coffee, and enthroned Mrs Tallboys in the large arm-chair, where she looked most beautiful and gorgeous, in a robe of some astonishing sheeny sky-blue, edged with