"Where is Raymond?" Mrs. Wilton asked.
"Raymond!" exclaimed Salome. "He said he would go to the station. Did you not see him?"
"No," Reginald said. "Digby Wilton and I walked down together from the cricket match. Digby is not so bad after all."
"I think him very nice, and I like Kate. I had quite an adventure, mamma. Lady Monroe, who says she knew you years and years ago, brought me from Edinburgh Crescent in her carriage, and was so kind. Do you remember her, mother? She came to Maplestone last year."
Poor Mrs. Wilton, who had been trying to keep back her tears, found the very mention of her old home too much at this moment. A sob was the only answer; and Ada said—
"Mamma had better go and take off her things and rest a little. Show us the way, Salome." Reginald followed, and tried not to be disappointed that his mother did not notice the book-shelves and several little contrivances in her room. And Salome wished Ada would not say, "How dreadfully small the house is; and how this huge ugly bed fills up the room,"—the four-post bed which was Mrs. Pryor's glory.
She had come up behind the party, and hearing her most valued possession thus slighted, took her revenge forthwith.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am; I don't wish to intrude; but I do not take dawgs. No dawgs or cats are allowed in my house. I don't take children as a rule—never; but a dawg I cannot put up with. It would wear my spirits out. I hope," looking round, "you are satisfied, ma'am!"
"Oh, it is all very clean and neat, thank you," Mrs. Wilton faltered out; "it will do very nicely, and—and I will see about Puck: if he is troublesome, he must be sent away."
Alas! the very spirit of mischief, whose name he bore, seemed to have suddenly possessed Puck. A great bustling and low growling was heard on the staircase, and Hans and Carl laughing and saying, "At it, Puck—good Puck." In another moment Puck appeared shaking something soft frantically, and tearing wildly about with it in his mouth, letting off the spirits which had been pent up on his journey from Fairchester.