tion, "Cobbler" Horn paid a visit to Birmingham,
the outcome of which was the engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Burton as "father"
and "mother" of the "home."

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE OPENING OF THE "HOME."

At length the day arrived for the opening of the "Home." It was early in
June, and the weather was superb. All the inhabitants of Daisy Lane,
whether tenants of "Cobbler" Horn or not, were invited to the opening
ceremony, and to the festivities which were to occupy the remainder of the
day. There was to be first a brief religious service in front of the Hall,
after which Miss Jemima was to unlock the great front door with a golden
key. Then would follow a royal feast in a marquee on the lawn; and, during
the afternoon and evening, the house and grounds would be open to all.

The religious service was to be conducted by Mr. Durnford. The parish
clergyman had been invited to take part, but had declined. Many of his
brother-clergymen would have hailed with joy such an opportunity of
fulfilling the spirit of their religion; but the Vicar of Daisy Lane
regarded the matter in a different light.

In due course "Cobbler" Horn, Miss Jemima, the young secretary, Tommy
Dudgeon--to whom had been given a very pressing invitation to join the
party,--and Mr. Durnford, alighted from the train at the station which
served for Daisy Lane, and were met by Mr. Gray.

"Well, Mr. Gray," said "the Golden Shoemaker," who was in a buoyant, and
almost boisterous mood, "How are things looking?"

"Everything promises well, sir," replied the agent, who was beaming with
pleasure. "The arrangements are all complete; and everybody will be
there--that is, with the exception of the vicar. Save his refusal to be
present, there has not, thus far, been a single hitch."

"I wish," said "Cobbler" Horn, "that we could have got the poor man to
come--for his own sake, I mean."

"Yes, sir; he will do himself no good. It's well they're not all like
that."

Mr. Gray had brought his own dog-cart for the gentlemen; and he had
provided for the ladies a comfortable basket-carriage, of which his son,
a lad of fifteen, had charge. The dog-cart was a very different equipage
from the miserable turn-out with which the agent had met his employer
on the occasion of his first visit. Everything was of the best--the
highly-finished trap, the shining harness, the dashing horse; and
"Cobbler" Horn was thankful to mark th