ttigrew poured out the tea, and
we handed cups and plates.

Albert's uncle took me behind a bush to see him tear what was left of
his hair when he found there were one hundred and twenty-three
Antiquities present, and I heard the President say to the Secretary that
"tea always fetched them."

Then it was time for the Roman ruin, and our hearts beat high as we took
our hats--it was exactly like Sunday--and joined the crowded procession
of eager Antiquities. Many of them had umbrellas and overcoats, though
the weather was fiery and without a cloud. That is the sort of people
they were. The ladies all wore stiff bonnets, and no one took their
gloves off, though, of course, it was quite in the country, and it is
not wrong to take your gloves off there.

We had planned to be quite close when the digging went on; but Albert's
uncle made us a mystic sign and drew us apart.

Then he said: "The stalls and dress-circle are for the guests. The hosts
and hostesses retire to the gallery, whence, I am credibly informed, an
excellent view may be obtained."

So we all went up on the Roman walls, and thus missed the cream of the
lark; for we could not exactly see what was happening. But we saw that
things were being taken from the ground as the men dug, and passed round
for the Antiquities to look at. And we knew they must be our Roman
remains: but the Antiquities did not seem to care for them much, though
we heard sounds of pleased laughter. And at last Alice and I exchanged
meaning glances when the spot was reached where we had put in the
extras. Then the crowd closed up thick, and we heard excited talk and we
knew we really _had_ sold the Antiquities this time.

Presently the bonnets and coats began to spread out and trickle towards
the house, and we were aware that all would soon be over. So we cut home
the back way, just in time to hear the President saying to Albert's
uncle:

"A genuine find--most interesting. Oh, really, you ought to have _one_.
Well, if you insist--"

And so, by slow and dull degrees, the thick sprinkling of Antiquities
melted off the lawn; the party was over, and only the dirty teacups and
plates, and the trampled grass and the pleasures of memory were left.

We had a very beautiful supper--out-of-doors, too--with jam sandwiches
and cake and things that were over; and as we watched the setting
monarch of the skies--I mean the sun--Alice said:

"Let's tell."

We let the Dentist tell, because it was