though a summer's day had been shaken out of its place into winter. It is
not often that the English climate is accommodating enough to lend its aid
to set off a place to advantage.

Be that, however, as it may, things looked smiling both without and within.
Mrs. Springwheat, by dint of early rising and superintendence, had got
things into such a state of forwardness as to be able to adorn herself with
a little jaunty cap--curious in microscopic punctures and cherry-coloured
ribbon interlardments--placed so far back on her finely-shaped head as to
proclaim beyond all possibility of cavil that it was there for ornament,
and not for the purpose of concealing the liberties of time with her
well-kept, clearly parted, raven-black hair. Liberties of time, forsooth!
Mrs. Springwheat was in the heighday of womanhood; and though she had
presented Springwheat with twins three times in succession, besides an
eldest son, she was as young, fresh-looking, and finely figured as she was
the day she was married. She was now dressed in a very fine French grey
merino, with a very small crochet-work collar, and, of course, capacious
muslin sleeves. The high flounces to her dress set off her smart waist to
great advantage.

Mrs. Springwheat had got everything ready, and herself too, by the time
Lord Scamperdale's second horseman rode into the yard and demanded a stall
for his horse. Knowing how soon the balloon follows the pilot, she
immediately ranged the Stunner-tartan-clad children in the breakfast-room;
and as the first whip's rate sounded as he rode round the corner, she sank
into an easy-chair by the fire, with a lace-fringed kerchief in the one
hand and the _Mark Lane Express_ in the other.

'Halloa! Springey!' followed by the heavy crack of a whip, announced the
arrival of his lordship before the green palings; and a loud view halloa
burst from Jack, as the object of inquiry was seen dancing about the
open-windowed room above, with his face all flushed with the exertion of
pulling on a very tight boot.

'Come in, my lord! pray, come in! The missis is below!' exclaimed
Springwheat, from the window; and just at the moment the pad-groom emerged
from the house, and ran to his lordship's horse's head.

His lordship and Jack then dismounted, and gave their hacks in charge of
the servant; while Wake, and Fyle, and Archer, who were also of the party,
scanned the countenances of the surrounding idlers, to see in whose hands
they had bes