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sheproposed,whenshehadfinishedtheslaughter
oftheinnocents,todigintothedepopulatedbeds.
OntheothersideofherpalingherneighbourGeorgie
Pillsonwasrollinghisstripoflawn,onwhichduring
thesummerheoftenplayedcroquetonasmallscale.
Occasionallytheyshoutedremarkstoeachother,but
astheygotmoreandmoreoutofbreathwiththeir
exertionstheremarksgotfewer.Mrs.Quantock’slast
questionhadbeen“Whatdoyoudowithslugs,
Georgie?”andGeorgiehadpantedout,“Pretendyou
don’tseethem.”
Mrs.Quantockhadlatelygrownratherstoutowing
toadietofsourmilk,whichwithplentyofsugarwas
notpalatable;butsourmilkandpyramidsofraw
vegetableshadquitestoppedallthesymptoms
ofconsumptionwhichthestudyofasmallbutlurid
medicalmanualhadinduced.To-dayshehadeaten
alargebutnormallunchinordertotestthemerits
ofhernewcook,whocertainlywasasuccess,forher
husbandhadgobbleduphisfoodwithgreatavidity
insteadofturningitoverandoverwithhisfork
asifitwashay.Inconsequence,stoutness,surfeit,and
somuchstoopinghadmadeherfeelrathergiddy,and
shewasstandinguptorecover,wonderingifthis
giddinesswasasymptomofsomethingdire,when
deVere,forsuchwastheincrediblenameofher
parlour-maid,camedownthestepsfromthedining-
roomwithanoteinherhand.SoMrs.Quantockhastily
tookoffhergardeningglovesofstoutleather,and
openedit.
Therewasasentenceofformalthanksforher
sympathywhichMrs.Lucasimmenselyprized,andthen
followedtheseridiculouswords:
IthasbeenaterribleblowtomypoorPepinoand
myself.WetrustedthatAuntieAmymighthavebeen
sparedusforafewyearsyet.
Ever,dearDaisy,yoursad
Lucia.
Andnotawordaboutexpectations!...Lucia’sdear
