compression. These she flounced down into a chair; then took one, shook
it out from its folds, and spread it on the table by instalments,
transferring the plates and dishes one by one from the old to the new
cloth.

"And I suppose they'll say, too, that she ha'n't a decent knife and fork
in her house!"

"I shouldn't say any such ill-natured thing, I am sure--" began Dick. But
Mrs. Day had vanished into the next room. Fancy appeared distressed.

"Very strange woman, isn't she?" said Geoffrey, quietly going on with his
dinner. "But 'tis too late to attempt curing. My heart! 'tis so growed
into her that 'twould kill her to take it out. Ay, she's very queer:
you'd be amazed to see what valuable goods we've got stowed away
upstairs."

Back again came Mrs. Day with a box of bright steel horn-handled knives,
silver-plated forks, carver, and all complete. These were wiped of the
preservative oil which coated them, and then a knife and fork were laid
down to each individual with a bang, the carving knife and fork thrust
into the meat dish, and the old ones they had hitherto used tossed away.

Geoffrey placidly cut a slice with the new knife and fork, and asked Dick
if he wanted any more.

The table had been spread for the mixed midday meal of dinner and tea,
which was common among frugal countryfolk. "The parishioners about
here," continued Mrs. Day, not looking at any living being, but snatching
up the brown delf tea-things, "are the laziest, gossipest, poachest,
jailest set of any ever I came among. And they'll talk about my teapot
and tea-things next, I suppose!" She vanished with the teapot, cups, and
saucers, and reappeared with a tea-service in white china, and a packet
wrapped in brown paper. This was removed, together with folds of tissue-
paper underneath; and a brilliant silver teapot appeared.

"I'll help to put the things right," said Fancy soothingly, and rising
from her seat. "I ought to have laid out better things, I suppose. But"
(here she enlarged her looks so as to include Dick) "I have been away
from home a good deal, and I make shocking blunders in my housekeeping."
Smiles and suavity were then dispensed all around by this bright little
bird.

After a little more preparation and modification, Mrs. Day took her seat
at the head of the table, and during the latter or tea division of the
meal, presided with much composure. It may cause some surprise to learn
that, now her vagary was over,