“O, now, Gabriel, he didn’t live in Back Lane, really.  Only the mill was there.”

“Out from the mansion of his forefathers,” continued Gabriel, “he drove with Johnny.  And everything went on beautifully until Johnny came in sight of King Billy’s statue:  and whether he fell in love with the horse King Billy sits on or whether he thought he was back again in the mill, anyhow he began to walk round the statue.”

Gabriel paced in a circle round the hall in his goloshes amid the laughter of the others.

“Round and round he went,” said Gabriel, “and the old gentleman, who was a very pompous old gentleman, was highly indignant.  ’Go on, sir!  What do you mean, sir?  Johnny!  Johnny!  Most extraordinary conduct!  Can’t understand the horse!”

The peal of laughter which followed Gabriel’s imitation of the incident was interrupted by a resounding knock at the hall door.  Mary Jane ran to open it and let in Freddy Malins.  Freddy Malins, with his hat well back on his head and his shoulders humped with cold, was puffing and steaming after his exertions.

“I could only get one cab,” he said.

“O, we’ll find another along the quay,” said Gabriel.

“Yes,” said Aunt Kate.  “Better not keep Mrs. Malins standing in the draught.”

Mrs. Malins was helped down the front steps by her son and Mr. Browne and, after many manoeuvres, hoisted into the cab.  Freddy Malins clambered in after her and spent a long time settling her on the seat, Mr. Browne helping him with advice.  At last she was settled comfortably and Freddy Malins invited Mr. Browne into the cab.  There was a good deal of confused talk, and then Mr. Browne got into the cab.  The cabman settled his rug over his knees, and bent down for the address.  The confusion grew greater and the cabman was directed differently by Freddy Malins and Mr. Browne, each of whom had his head out through a window of the cab.  The difficulty was to know where to drop Mr. Browne along the route, and Aunt Kate, Aunt Julia and Mary Jane helped the discussion from the doorstep with cross-directions and contradictions and abundance of laughter.  As for Freddy Malins he was speechless with laughter.  He popped his head in and out of the window every moment to the great danger of his hat, and told his mother how the discussion was progressing, till at last Mr. Browne shouted to the bewildered cabman above the din of everybody’s laughter: 

“Do you know Trinity College?”

“Yes, sir,” said the cabman.

“Well, drive bang up against Trinity College gates,” said Mr. Browne, “and then we’ll tell you where to go.  You understand now?”

“Yes, sir,” said the cabman.

“Make like a bird for Trinity College.”

“Right, sir,” said the cabman.

The horse was whipped up and the cab rattled off along the quay amid a chorus of laughter and adieus.