"My cousin, she gave me the jug for luck; she said it was an odd one what the basin of had got smashed."
"Oh, Martha, you are a dear!" sighed Anthea, throwing her arms round her.
"Yes," giggled Martha, "you'd better make the most of me while you've got me. I shall give your ma notice directly minute she comes back."
"Oh, Martha, we haven't been so very horrid to you, have we?" asked Anthea, aghast.
"Oh, it isn't that, miss." Martha giggled more than ever. "I'm a-goin' to be married. It's Beale the gamekeeper. He's been a-proposin' to me off and on ever since you come home from the clergyman's where you got locked up on the church-tower. And to-day I said the word an' made him a happy man."
Anthea put the seven-and-fourpence back in the missionary-box, and pasted paper over the place where the poker had broken it. She was very glad to be able to do this, and she does not know to this day whether breaking open a missionary-box is or is not a hanging matter!