and polished
and empty; or with a little cloth laid just at one end for old Mr
Ffolliot.

What did they think of it now, these solemn pictured people?--this
long, narrow strip of brilliant light and flowers and sparkling glass
and silver, surrounded by well-dressed cheerful persons, all,
apparently, laughing and talking at the same time.

They had reached dessert, and he was handing Mary a dish of sweets; she
took four. "Do take some," she whispered, "take lots, and what you
don't want give to me; you can put them in my bridge-bag under the
table, I want them for the children. I promised Ger."

Bewildered, but only too happy to do anything she asked him, Eloquent
helped himself largely.

"Now," Mary whispered, holding a little white satin bag open under the
table, "and if they come round again, take some more."

"It was my grandfather began it," she explained; "he used always to
save sweets for us when we stayed with him, and now it's a rule--if we
dine downstairs--if there are any--there aren't always, you know--and
Fusby's so stingy, if there are any left he takes them and locks them
up in a box till next time. You watch Grantly, he's got some too, but
he hasn't got anywhere to put them, like me. I must go round behind
him when mother collects eyes, then I'll nip up to Ger, for he'll never
go to sleep till I've been . . ."

"You see," she went on confidentially, "they will take them to Willets
to-morrow. He loves good sweets and he never gets any unless they take
them to him. They'll make a party of it, and Mrs Willets will give
them each a weeny glass of ginger-wine. They'll have a lovely time--do
you know Willets?"

"By sight, I think . . . he's your keeper, isn't he? From all I can
hear to-night he seems a very remarkable person, everyone is talking
about him."

"Oh, you ought to know him, he's the greatest dear in Redmarley.
Everyone who knows us knows Willets, and dukes and people have tried to
get him away, he's such a good sportsman, but he won't leave us. We
love him so much we couldn't bear it. He couldn't either. He's been
keeper here nearly twenty-three years. Before mother came he was here,
and now there's all of us he'll never leave."

"Have you got enough? Won't they want some for themselves as well as
Willets?"

"Thanks to you, I've got a splendid lot. One can't always ask people,
you know, but I thought you wouldn't mind."

"Shall I demand some more in a loud voice? there a