e principle), in the middle of the street outside; and
piercing screams testify to the fact that John William Gulching, aged
two, had just been uprooted by Mary Kate Gulching, who wants to lay out
a new Hop-Scotch court, from the flagstone upon which he has been seated
for the last half hour and dumped down upon another, the warming of
which, even his untutored sensations inform him, will be a matter of
some time and trouble.

Dolly, not a whit dismayed by a thoroughly ungracious reception, tucks
up her skirt, rolls up her sleeves, finishes washing-up, makes a bed,
and peels some potatoes. Then she takes the baby and attends to its more
conspicuous wants, what time Mrs Gulching, thoroughly mollified,--she
had thought at first that Dolly was "a person with tracks,"--goes round
the corner to the "Drop Inn," at which hostelry the work of which her
spouse is habitually in pursuit invariably goes to ground, and brings
that gentleman home with her, to find Dolly playing with a spotless
infant whom she gradually recognises as her own offspring.

Dolly begins at once.

"Good morning, Mr Gulching! I expect you think I am one of those horrid
canvassers."

Mr Gulching, a little taken aback, admits that such was his impression.

"Well, I'm not," says Dolly. (_Oh, Dolly!_) "I suppose there may be some
excuse for canvassing among people who do not take much interest in
politics,--though _I_ shouldn't like to do it,--but it would be rather a
waste of time for me or any one else to come and try on that sort of
thing with _you_, wouldn't it, Mr Gulching?"

Mr Gulching, outwardly frigid but inwardly liquescent, agrees that this
is so; and adds in a truculent growl that he would like to see 'em try
it on.

"What I really want," continues Dolly, "is your _advice_. I am told that
you are so respected here, and have such a knowledge of the requirements
of the neighbourhood, that you might be inclined to give us a little
help in a scheme which Mr Inglethwaite has in hand. Schemes for the
improvement of some of the houses--not snug little cribs like this, but
the homes of people who are not so clever and able to take care of
themselves as you--and the supplying of more amusements in the evenings;
entertainments, lectures----"

"Teetotal?" inquires Mr Gulching hoarsely.

"Oh dear, no. I am sure Mr Inglethwaite would not wish to deprive any
one of his glass of beer. He quite agrees with your views about moderate
drinking." (This, I ma