id the old woman, "something I want to know;
for I was arguing it with my daughter's husband the last time I was
here, and I want to convince him. He says--my daughter's husband, that
is--that the King had thick hair on the top of his head, God bless him!
and I say he hadn't. What I say is, he'd got all the hair he needed. So
if you ever saw him, you could tell me."

"Oh, no, I can't," Janet said. "When I saw him he was in a carriage."

"What a pity!" said the old woman. "But haven't you a portrait of him
anywhere?"

"No, I'm sure we haven't," said Janet. "Perhaps we ought to have! It
would be more loyal, wouldn't it?"

"Never mind," said the old woman; "only it would put my mind at rest."
And then suddenly she began to laugh. "Why," she said, "how silly we
are! Of course you've got portraits of him--lashin's of them, darlin'."

"Where?" Janet exclaimed.

"In your purse," said the old woman. "On the blessed money. On the
shillings and sixpences, my dear."

"Of course," said Janet, laughing too; and she drew out her purse and
looked at the money it contained. There was half a sovereign and half a
crown and some smaller coins; but none were new ones: all were of
Victoria's reign.

"What a pity!" said the old woman again--"perhaps one of your brothers
or sisters has some more. Not the old blackguard driving, of course."

"Yes," said Janet; "I'll see;" and descended the steps, and soon after
returned with an Edward shilling.

The old woman took it and examined head. "I was right," she said, "God
bless him! He was as thin on the top as my own poor father was, rest
his soul! Well, dear, and now I'll say good-bye," she added soon after,
as she rose to her feet and gave the shilling back. "If you'll make
that spalpeen stop, I'll get down, for me daughter's cottage is just
over there, across fields. Thank you very kindly for the tea and your
sweet company. Good-bye, good bye," she called, "and the saints protect
you all!" and she hobbled off through a gate in the hedge.

At Alverminster Gregory insisted upon buying some acid-drops, and went
to Janet for a penny. But when she came to feel for her purse it was
not to be found. She hunted everywhere in the caravan, but in vain.

"When did you have it last?" Kink asked. "You haven't bought anything
to-day."

"No," said Janet, "but I had it out when the old Irishwoman was there."

"I guessed she'd get some money out of you," said Kink.

"Oh, Kink!" said Janet; "she