"A genuine wise man," said Geoffrey.

"To be sure, what a day's work we had yesterday!" Mr. Callcome continued,
lowering his voice as if it were not necessary any longer to include
those in the room above among his audience, and selecting a remote corner
of his best clean handkerchief for wiping his face. "To be sure!"

"Things so heavy, I suppose," said Geoffrey, as if reading through the
chimney-window from the far end of the vista.

"Ay," said Nat, looking round the room at points from which furniture had
been removed. "And so awkward to carry, too. 'Twas ath'art and across
Dick's garden; in and out Dick's door; up and down Dick's stairs; round
and round Dick's chammers till legs were worn to stumps: and Dick is so
particular, too. And the stores of victuals and drink that lad has laid
in: why, 'tis enough for Noah's ark! I'm sure I never wish to see a
choicer half-dozen of hams than he's got there in his chimley; and the
cider I tasted was a very pretty drop, indeed;--none could desire a
prettier cider."

"They be for the love and the stalled ox both. Ah, the greedy martels!"
said grandfather James.

"Well, may-be they be. Surely," says I, "that couple between 'em have
heaped up so much furniture and victuals, that anybody would think they
were going to take hold the big end of married life first, and begin wi'
a grown-up family. Ah, what a bath of heat we two chaps were in, to be
sure, a-getting that furniture in order!"

"I do so wish the room below was ceiled," said Fancy, as the dressing
went on; "we can hear all they say and do down there."

"Hark! Who's that?" exclaimed a small pupil-teacher, who also assisted
this morning, to her great delight. She ran half-way down the stairs,
and peeped round the banister. "O, you should, you should, you should!"
she exclaimed, scrambling up to the room again.

"What?" said Fancy.

"See the bridesmaids! They've just a come! 'Tis wonderful, really! 'tis
wonderful how muslin can be brought to it. There, they don't look a bit
like themselves, but like some very rich sisters o' theirs that nobody
knew they had!"

"Make 'em come up to me, make 'em come up!" cried Fancy ecstatically; and
the four damsels appointed, namely, Miss Susan Dewy, Miss Bessie Dewy,
Miss Vashti Sniff, and Miss Mercy Onmey, surged upstairs, and floated
along the passage.

"I wish Dick would come!" was again the burden of Fancy.

The same instant a small twig and flower from the