op.

"'That ---- aunt of thine,'" she continued, reading. "'I know her tricks
and I learn how she hath suffered that'----"

"There's another," said Phoebe.

"Skip it," said Droop, gravely.

"'That ---- milk-and-water popinjay to come courting my Poll. So see you
follow Gregory, mistress, and without wait or parley come with him to
the Peacock Inn, where I lie to-night. The grays are in fine fettle and
thy black mare grows too fat for want of exercise. Thy mother-in-law
commands thy instant return with Gregory, having much business forward
with preparing gowns and fallals against our presentation to her
Majesty.'"

"It is signed 'Isaac Burton,'" said Phoebe, "and see, the paper was
sealed with a steel gauntlet."

Droop examined the seal carefully and then returned it, saying:

"Looks to me like a bunch of 'sparagus tumbled over on one side."

Phoebe laughed.

"But what always interests me most in this letter is the postscript,"
she said. "It reads: 'Thy mother thinks thou wilt make better speed if I
make thee to know that the players thou wottest of'----"

"What's a 'wottest'?" said Droop, in puzzled tones.

"Wottest means knowest--haven't you read Shakespeare?"

"No," said Droop.

"'The players thou wottest of are to stop at the Peacock, and will be
giving some sport there.'

"Now, those players always interest me," Phoebe continued. "Somehow I
can't help but believe that William Shakespeare----"

"Fiddle ends!" Rebecca interrupted. "I've heard that talk fifty-leven
times an' I'm pinin' fer relief. Mr. Droop, would you mind tellin' us
what the time o' year is now. Seems to me that sun has whirled in an'
out o' that window 'nough times to bring us back to the days o'
creation."

Droop consulted the date indicator and announced that it was now
September 5, 1897.

"Not a year yet!" cried the two women together.

"Why, no," said Copernicus. "Ye see, we are takin' about three hours to
lose a year."

"Fer the lands sakes!" cried Rebecca. "Can't we go a little faster?"

"My gracious, yes!" said Droop. "But I'm 'fraid o' the side weight fer
ye."

"I'd rather hev side weight than wait forever," said Rebecca, with a
grim smile.

"D'ye think ye could stand a little more speed, Cousin Phoebe?" said
Droop.

"We might try," she replied.

"Well, let's try, then," he said, and turned promptly to the
engine-room.

Very soon the difference in speed was felt, and as they found themselves
travelling more