ch could only have come from one person; and Nan, hearing it, wheeled
round fully prepared to see Gervase Vanburgh standing before her. Not
one whit disconcerted did she appear at the sight; but, holding out her
skirt on either side, so as to display the huge cloth boots to the
fullest advantage, she dropped him a curtsey and cried, "Pleased to see
you, sir! I hope you admire me!"

"I do!" said Gervase in his soft drawl; and there was an accent of
sincerity in his voice which brought Jim's eyes upon him in curious
scrutiny. A word from Lilias had introduced him to this heir of the Mr
Vanburgh of whom he had heard so much, and now he eyed him narrowly,
forming his own swift conclusion.

"Dandified! Affected! Fine face, though; good expression! Decent
fellow, I should say, if the nonsense were knocked out of him.
Uncommonly pleased to see Nan, too. This must be looked into!" Then he
was obliged to laugh again at the downright fashion in which his sister
demanded the reason of the stranger's sudden appearance.

"What have I come for?" Gervase raised his hand deprecatingly. "To see
if I could be of any use, of course. My uncle was anxious to know if he
could lend anything in the way of tents or bunting, or if you would like
one of his gardeners to come across and help your man. A hamper of
strawberries is to be sent over presently, with the palms and plants,
and the cook is concocting something very special in the shape of ices,
but you are to ask for anything and everything you want. He is most
anxious to help."

"Bless him!" cried Nan devoutly. "Give him my love, and say that I
shall thank him on my bended knees the moment the rush is over. The
gardener would be most useful, for James has more than he can do, and we
are all taken up with our own special departments."

"And for myself? Can I do nothing to help you? I came last night on
purpose for this sale, so I hope you will make me of use." He looked at
Nan as he spoke, but it was Lilias who replied, taking him at his word,
with an assurance which virtually monopolised him for the entire
afternoon.

"Oh, thank you so much; then will you please help me in the punt? I am
going to take out small parties at sixpence a head, and intended to ask
Jim to help me; but as he knows the people, it would be better if he
were free to walk about, and make himself agreeable. Will you walk down
to the river with me now, and have a little practice? Jim will sen