ife.'

John Smith, staggered in mind, went out of doors and looked over the
garden gate, to collect his ideas. He had not been there two minutes
when wheels were heard, and a carriage and pair rolled along the road.
A distinguished-looking lady, with the demeanour of a duchess, reclined
within. When opposite Smith's gate she turned her head, and instantly
commanded the coachman to stop.

'Ah, Mr. Smith, I am glad to see you looking so well. I could not help
stopping a moment to congratulate you and Mrs. Smith upon the happiness
you must enjoy. Joseph, you may drive on.'

And the carriage rolled away towards St. Launce's.

Out rushed Mrs. Smith from behind a laurel-bush, where she had stood
pondering.

'Just going to touch my hat to her,' said John; 'just for all the world
as I would have to poor Lady Luxellian years ago.'

'Lord! who is she?'

'The public-house woman--what's her name? Mrs.--Mrs.--at the Falcon.'

'Public-house woman. The clumsiness of the Smith family! You MIGHT say
the landlady of the Falcon Hotel, since we are in for politeness. The
people are ridiculous enough, but give them their due.'

The possibility is that Mrs. Smith was getting mollified, in spite of
herself, by these remarkably friendly phenomena among the people of St.
Launce's. And in justice to them it was quite desirable that she should
do so. The interest which the unpractised ones of this town expressed so
grotesquely was genuine of its kind, and equal in intrinsic worth to the
more polished smiles of larger communities.

By this time Mr. and Mrs. Trewen were returning from the garden.

'I'll ask 'em flat,' whispered John to his wife. 'I'll say, "We be in a
fog--you'll excuse my asking a question, Mr. and Mrs. Trewen. How is it
you all be so friendly to-day?" Hey? 'Twould sound right and sensible,
wouldn't it?'

'Not a word! Good mercy, when will the man have manners!'

'It must be a proud moment for you, I am sure, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, to
have a son so celebrated,' said the bank-manager advancing.

'Ah, 'tis Stephen--I knew it!' said Mrs. Smith triumphantly to herself.

'We don't know particulars,' said John.

'Not know!'

'No.'

'Why, 'tis all over town. Our worthy Mayor alluded to it in a speech at
the dinner last night of the Every-Man-his-own-Maker Club.'

'And what about Stephen?' urged Mrs. Smith.

'Why, your son has been feted by deputy-governors and Parsee princes
and nobody-knows-who in India; is hand in