of furniture arrived, though "The Bower"
was already furnished; but, as Miss Limpenny said, in all these
matters of comfort and refinement, "there are degrees." On this
occasion the Admiral, who had been prevailed upon to leave his bed,
executed a manoeuvre the audacity of which should have commanded
success.

He crossed the road, and opened a conversation with the driver.

But success does not always wait on the brave. The van-driver
happened to have a temper as short as the Admiral's, and far less
reverence.

"Good-morning," said the Admiral, cheerily.

"Mornin'."

"What's a-foot to-day?"

"Same as yesterday--twelve inches."

The Admiral was rather taken aback, but smiled, nevertheless, and
persevered.

"Ha, ha! very good. You are a wit, I perceive."

But the driver's conversation teemed with the unexpected.

"Look 'ere, Ruby-face! give me any more of your sass an' I'll punch
yer 'ed for tuppence."

This was conclusive. The Admiral struck his flag, re-crossed the
street, went indoors, and had it out with Mrs. Buzza. Indeed, at the
end of half-an-hour that poor lady's feelings were so overwrought,
and, in consequence, her sobs so loud, that the Admiral had perforce
to get out his double-bass and play a selection of martial music to
prevent Miss Limpenny's hearing them on the other side of the
partition.

All this happened early in the afternoon. Towards five o'clock Miss
Limpenny, who had only left her post twice, and on each occasion to
snatch a hurried meal, was rewarded for her patience. The front door
of "The Bower" opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys appeared,
dressed, as Miss Limpenny could see, for a walk.

"Now, I wonder," reflected that kind soul, "which direction they will
take. Personally, of course, I should prefer them to pass this
window; but I hope I can subdue private inclination to public spirit,
and for Troy's sake I hope they will visit the Castle first.
The salubrity of the air, as well as the expansiveness of the view,
would be certain to impress them favourably. Dear, dear! I wish I
could advise them. Should they take the direction of the town, I
know by experience they will be apt to meet with an effluvium of
decaying fish, and I should _so_ like their stay among us to be begun
under pleasant auspices."

But almost before Miss Limpenny had concluded these reflections, the
strangers had determined on the direction. They turned neither
towards the Town nor up th