"Yes, I will," said Vernon. "But if it's 'fields,' what will you do? You mayn't take a shilling out?"
"No," said Rod; "if it's 'fields' I'll eat my best hat."
"I hope it's fields,'" said Gregory.
"Horrid little boy!" said Rod. "But now we'll see."
He opened Milton slowly, and turned over the pages of "Lycidas." "Ha! ha!" he said; "no cake for Charles Vernon, Esquire, and two bob for Mother Church. And my best hat saved. Listen:
"'At last he rose and twitch'd his mantle blue:
To-morrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.'"
"No cake!" groaned Vernon. "Repulsive children!" he continued tragically. "Why did you knock at this unhappy door and ask your foolish question here? Are there no other houses in Cirencester? No cake! No cake!"
They screamed with laughter.
"I like them," said Rod. "They're nice children. I hope they'll come again. And now for a large tea, with plenty of cake for all but one of us."
They would have liked to stay a long time, for Rod and Vernon were very kind and amusing, but Janet had Hester on her mind, left alone in the Slowcoach; and so directly tea was finished they said good-bye.