The party had now arrived at the corner of Coburg and Charlotte streets when the latter hastily exclaimed.
"By Jiminey! I must go and see about a tub that a woman was to leave for me in the market. It's a good thing I did'nt forgit; for Melindy would have my head off."
"I don't think Melindy is so dreadful as you seem to say, Mr. Spriggins," ventured Lottie, who had gone a few steps in advance, but now turned face to face with the jubilant Moses.
"Will we wait dinner for you, Mr. Spriggins?" asked Marguerite, looking earnestly at the sturdy son of toil as if she knew the full value of the rough but generous nature.
Marguerite was one of the few who could fully appreciate the lines of Scotland's gifted bard—
"A king can make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that.
But an honest man's aboon his might,
Guid faith he maunna fa' that."
She had moral courage to stand up boldly for those whom the fashionable world would sneer at. She was not ashamed to recognize a plainly-dressed acquaintance in the most public thoroughfare, nor did she ever make an excuse to be pre-occupied when approached by some coarse but well-meaning inferior.
Other subjects now crowd upon us.
Aunt Hester once more gladdens the Verne cottage with her cheering presence. Sunshine follows every step of the happy and hearty matron.
"Not a bit older, you say, Evelyn. Now I did'nt come here to be made fun of in that style. It was no later than this morning that your Uncle William told me I was greyer than he! Now there's conflicting opinions enough for one day," and the hearty laugh that followed showed that Mrs. Montgomery was as full of life as ever.