"Yes; it's pudding day."

"That's better. What pudding is it?"

Markes shook her head.

"Tell me, and I'll give you a kiss," said Clotilde.

"If your aunts was to hear you talk like that they'd have fits,"

grumbled the woman. "It's rice-pudding."

"Baked?"

"No."

"Boiled in milk?"

"No--plain boiled."

"Sauce or jam with it?"

"Sauce or jam!" said the woman, in tones of disgust. "Neither on 'em, but sugar and a bit o' b.u.t.ter; and think yourselves lucky to get that.

New dresses, indeed! It's shameful; and us in the kitchen half-starved!"

"Well, we can't help it," said Marie. "I'm sure we don't live any too well."

"No, you don't," said the woman, grinning. "But it does seem a shame to go spending money as they seem to mean to do on you two. I 'spose you're going to be married, ain't you?"

"I don't know," said Clotilde. "Are we?"

"There, don't ask me. I don't know nothing at all about it, and I shan't speak a word. I only know what I heard them say."

"Do tell us, Marky dear, there's a dear, good old nursey, and we'll do just as you tell us," said Clotilde, in a wheedling way.

"You both make haste down, or you'll both have double lessons to get off, so I tell you."

"But tell us," said Marie, "and we'll both give you a kiss."

"You keep your kisses for your rich husbands, my dears, and I hope you'll like giving 'em--that's all I can say. I told you so: there goes the bell."

Volume 1, Chapter VII.

ECCENTRIC GUESTS.

"That's right--I adore punctuality," said Dr Stonor, as John Huish was ushered into the drawing-room of Laurel Hall. For, having mastered the repugnance which had made him feel disposed to send a message to put off his visit, he had chartered a hansom, and run up to the doctor's house.

There was nothing new about it externally, for it was one of those old red-brick buildings that our ancestors knew so well how to contrive, and which they always surrounded with iron railings with great gates about double their height. This was evidently for protection; but why the gates were made so high and the railings so low has never been yet found out.

So John Huish rang and was admitted, starting slightly on finding himself face to face with Daniel; but as that individual acted as if they had never met before, and asked him his name, the visitor felt more composed, and entered, and was announced.

"My sister, Miss Stonor," said the doctor. "Selina, my dear, this is one of my oldest patients. I prescribed for him for infantile colic when he was a month old, and lanced his gums at six."

John Huish found himself face to face with a thin, prim little lady in tightly-fitting black silk with white collar and cuffs. She was rather pale, had perfectly grey hair in smooth bands, and looked mild and wistful, but she saluted their guest with a quiet smile, and then he was led off to be introduced to the others present.

"This is Captain Lawdor, Mr Rawlinson, Mr Roberts," continued the doctor. "My old friend John Huish." And he introduced Huish in turn to a rather bluff-looking, florid man with grey whiskers; a heavy, stern and stubborn looking man with iron-grey hair and a closely-trimmed beard; and a slight, delicate man with rather a sad expression, which, however, lit up with a genial smile.

John Huish was very soon engaged with Captain Lawdor on the question of yachting, and found his new acquaintance somewhat of an enthusiast upon the build and rig of sea-going boats, his preference being for the yawl.

But, all the same, he found time to exchange a few words with the thin, pensive-looking Mr Roberts, who chatted about the politics of the hour, and with Mr Rawlinson, whose speech quite carried out the stubborn appearance of his knotty forehead and short iron-grey hair. He was very indignant about a railway accident mentioned in the daily paper, and gave it as his opinion that there would be no safety until heavy penalties were inflicted upon the companies, or else until the lines were in the hands of the Government.

Then Daniel came in and announced dinner, and Mr Roberts taking down Miss Stonor, Huish found himself with the doctor.

"Patients not well enough to show up, doctor?" he said quietly, as they went towards the dining-room.

"Eh?"

"I said, 'Patients not well enough to show up'?"

"Hist! Don't mention them," said the doctor; and Huish gave a sigh of relief as he thought how much better the dinner would pa.s.s off without such company.

A minute later and they were seated at table, John Huish on the doctor's right, and the captain on his right again. The stubborn, heavy man was upon Miss Stonor's right, and the pensive-looking man facing Huish.

Grace was said, the cover of the soup-tureen was lifted with a flourish by Daniel, and Miss Stonor ladled out the clear brown _julienne_, half hidden herself behind the tureen, till all were helped but Mr Rawlinson and the doctor.

Mr Rawlinson pa.s.sed his hands through his iron-grey hair, and smiled as he watched the ladle go down into the steaming fluid and come up again to be emptied into the plate held by Daniel.

"And so, Rawlinson, you would heavily fine the companies?" said the doctor.

"Indeed I would," was the reply. "Would you mind, Miss Stonor," he continued insinuatingly, "half a ladleful more? Delicious soup.

Thanks."

Miss Stonor smiled, and the soup was placed before him, when, to the amazement of Huish, Mr Rawlinson sent his chair back with a quick motion, deftly-lifted the soup-plate on to the Turkey carpet, and, as if it were a footpan, composedly placed the toes of his patent-leather shoes therein.

Miss Stonor did not move a muscle--she might have been a disciple of Daniel; while the doctor said quietly: "Head hot, Rawlinson?"

"Yes, very," was the reply, as the eccentric guest smiled and nodded.

"I'd go and lie down for an hour," said the doctor gently.

"Would you--would you?" said Mr Rawlinson, smiling pleasantly. "Well, I will."

"Come and join us presently if you feel better," said the doctor.

"Certainly I will," said Mr Rawlinson. "Miss Stonor, you'll excuse me?"

Miss Stonor bowed, and he turned upon Daniel.

"A napkin, Daniel," he said rather severely. "I cannot leave the room with my shoes in this state."

He lifted his feet from the soup-plate as he spoke, and sat with his legs at right angles to his body, while in the most matter-of-fact way Daniel stooped down, wiped the patent-leather shoes, and, sticking his thumbs into his armholes, Mr Rawlinson calmly left the room.