Whereupon the Gidger, ever athirst for information, asked,—
'What's a Poppet, Uncle Woss?'
My brother replied that a Poppet was a little girl in a white fur coat, and immediately buttoned her up in one, while he called a soldier, who was standing near, to 'bring the other coat,' and, as he helped me on with it, he said, 'You remember Brown, don't you, Meg?'
'Why, Sam! of course I do,' and I shook hands. 'However do you always manage it?'
'Oh, got a knee this time,' said Ross, and stared at Brown, who looked extremely sheepish. 'Where's your maid?' he added.
'Haven't brought her, couldn't get a passage.'
'Oh, what rotten luck; how have you managed?'
'Captain Everard did a lot for me.'
'But not your hair, surely, Meg? (Get a porter, Brown, and fish the baggage out.)'
So while Brown 'fished,' I revelled in my warm coat, and tried to see how it set on me at the back and said, 'Why, Ross, it's sable.'