"Did he sing well?"
"Sing! I should think he did! You should 'ave 'eard 'em larf! They wouldn't let 'im leave off. They clapped and 'oorayed every time--them children--till I thought they'd never stop. Funny ain't the word. I very nearly split in 'arf, Miss! There was five hundred children, and 'eaps of other folk, and the vicar and 'is curates, and their lady friends--and they larfed as much as the children did, Miss. And right at the end 'e sang a little song--to finish with--which was funny at first, and then made you feel you'd like to cry. And the kiddies kept quite quiet in that part--they seemed to understand, Miss. And when he'd done, Miss, he bowed to all the children just as if they were lords and ladies, and it was real pretty to see the little girls kiss their hands to 'im, and the doctor kiss his hand back to them! Everybody enjoyed it, and them kids went 'ome as 'appy as if they'd each found a shillin'."
Mary dilated on the concert at great length, but she went off at last, and Dora was still sitting thoughtfully before the glass when there came yet another knock at her door.
She rose from her chair and went to see who it was. "May I come in a moment, dear?"
It was Mr Maybury. "I wanted to hear how you enjoyed the pantomime."
For reply, Dora flung her arms round her father's neck and burst into tears.
"Why, Dora, dear--what is the matter?"
But Dora still sobbed upon his shoulder.
"Is it anything to do with Mr Jefferson, dearest?"
"Yes," said Dora.