was about the mother's
waist, and with the other she caught back the hair a playful breeze blew
forward to caress the changeful roses of her cheek.

"I must get me a net, mother, such as the President wore one First Day
at Christ Church."

"Thou must have been piously attending to thy prayers," returned Mrs.
Swanwick, smiling.

"Oh, but how could I help seeing?"

"It is to keep the powder off his velvet coat, my dear. When thou art
powdered again, we must have a net."

"Oh, mother!" It was still a sore subject.

"I should like to have seen thee, child."

"Oh, the naughty mother! I shall tell of thee. Ah, here is a pin in
sight. Let me hide it, mother."

The woman seen from the gate near-by was some forty-five years old, her
hair a trifle gray under the high cap, the face just now merry, the gown
of fine, gray linen cut to have shown the neck but for the soft, silken
shawl crossed on the bosom and secured behind by a tie at the waist. A
pin held it in place where it crossed, and other pins on the shoulders.
The gown had elbow sleeves, and she wore long, openwork thread glove
mitts; for she was expecting Mistress Wynne and Josiah and was pleased
in her own way to be at her best.

Schmidt, lingering, said: "It is the pins. They must needs be hid in the
folds not to be seen. Ah, vanity has many disguises. It is only to be
neat, thou seest, Rene, and not seem to be solicitous concerning
appearances." Few things escaped the German.

They walked away, and as they went saw Mistress Gainor Wynne go by in
her landau with Langstroth. "That is queer to be seen--the damsel in her
seventies and uncle bulldog Josiah. He had a permanent ground rent on
her hill estate as lasting as time, a matter of some ten pounds. They
have enjoyed to fight over it for years. But just now there is peace.
Oh, she told me I was to hold my tongue. She drove to Gray Court, and
what she did to the man I know not; but the rent is redeemed, and they
are bent on mischief, the pair of them. As I was not to speak of it, I
did not; but if you tell never shall I be forgiven." He threw his long
bulk on the grass and laughed great laughter.

"But what is it?" said Rene.

"_Guter Himmel_, man! the innocent pair are gone to persuade the Pearl
and the sweet mother shell--she that made it--to take that lottery
prize. I would I could see them."

"But she will never, never do it," said Rene.

"No; for she has already done it."

"What, truly? _Vraimen