'Blanche is helping Mary arrange the Hoxton—I mean her own drawing-room. Hector has brought a dog-cart to drive papa about in; Daisy is gone with Harry and Aubrey to the Grange for some camellias.'
'And Ethel rushing to Cocksmoor!'
'I can't help it, Tom,' she said, humbly; 'I wish I could.'
'What's this immense pannier you are carrying?'
'It is quite light. It is twelve of the hats for the children tomorrow. Mary was bent on trimming them all as usual, and I was deluded enough to believe she would, till last evening I found just one and a half done! I did as many as I could at night, till papa heard me rustling about and thumped. Those went early this morning; and these are the rest, which I have just finished.'
'Was there no one to send?'
'My dear Tom, is your experience of weddings so slight as to suppose there is an available being in the family the day before?'
'I'm sure I don't desire such experience. Why could not they be content without ferreting me down?'
'I am very glad you have come. It would have been a great mortification if you had stayed away. I never quite believed you would.'
'I had much rather see the operation I shall miss to-morrow morning. I shall go back by the two o'clock train.'