CHAPTER XXXVIII.
"SALLY'S SUBSTITUTE."
"I stood
Among them, but not of them."
Childe Harold.
In a large flagged room on the basement story, Helen, Katie, and old Biddy, were seated round a well-scoured table, making busy preparations for the despatch of a creditable "cart" to Terryscreen Market; neat bunches of salads, bouquets of flowers, and bundles of asparagus, testify to their industry. As far as the young ladies are concerned, their labours have been lightened by the interchange of riddles, chiefly very poor ones, and the worse they were, the more they laughed, and the more Biddy sniggered.
"I give up that one, as to what makes more noise than a pig under a gate!" said Helen, holding an exquisite bouquet of roses towards her cousin. "There is no answer. The pig could not be beaten."
"I wish I had some more twine," she added, looking anxiously around.
"I wish you had, my dear," returned Katie, "but I can do nothing but wish! My hands are full. There is some in the cup on the chimney-piece in the office. No, that's gum; it's in Dido's desk."
The office was a little den behind the dining-room, consecrated to business, and the communings of Dido and Darby. The latter was in the act of leaving it, when Helen appeared; his face looked more foxy than usual, and there was a sly smile in his eyes as he said,—