And this fairy must have turned the scale at five-and-twenty stone! But, so merry her smile and the twinkle in her eyes that, rude though he felt it to be, Antony could not help bursting into a hearty laugh. And she kept him company too. 'I'm really not laughing, you know; but--ha! ha! ha! I'---- 'And I'm really not laughing,' cried Mary. 'But--he! he! he! I'---- 'This isn't your wife, Skeleton? Now, really, is it, you know?' 'In course she is,' cried the Skeleton. 'You don't mean to go for to think that I'---- 'No, no, my good sir, I shouldn't think so for a moment.' Mary now hit her _memento mori_ of a husband a ringing slap on his bony back. 'Go and do something,' she exclaimed. Skeleton was evidently accustomed to obey, and bolted at once to do something. Mary looked after him with a satisfied sigh. 'I've taught my hubbie what man's chief duty is: to do what his missus bids him. Beautiful morning, isn't it, sir,' she added. Antony made no attempt to deny it. 'You seem very happy here, on the whole,' he remarked. 'Oh, very, sir. But, of course, we all look forward to something better.' 'Beyond death and the grave, eh?' 'Who said anything about death and the grave? Who's going to talk about graves on a day like this? No, sir; but hubbie and I, after a time, look forward to retiring from the show-line and taking a little poultry and milk farm. Then he'll grow fat and I'll grow lean, till we meet like, and live happy ever after. But here comes Chops.' And Mary floated away. ‘’Am an' heggs, sir; grilled salmon, sir; an' 'spatch-cock! An' w'ich will yer 'ave?' 'What is 'spatch-cock, Master Chops?' 'First ye catches yer little cock, sir, no matter w'ere. Then, w'en 'e's dead an' trussed, ye divides 'im down the back like a kippered 'erring, an' does 'im over a clear fire--gipsy fashion.' 'I'll have 'spatch-cock, Chops.' 'An' please, sir, I was to take the boss's compliments, an' would ye like to 'ave yer meals in the big marquee or in the caravan all by yerself like?' 'My compliments to your master, and please say I'm too shy yet, and so I'll feed where I am for a day or two.' 'Right ye be, sir, an' I was to 'tend on ye like. An' Mrs Pendlebury will make yer bed an' tidy up, an' Lotty Biffins Lee 'erself will put in the wild-flowers.' 'Capital! But who is Mrs Pendlebury?' 'Why, she as 'as just gone hoff--Skeleton's wife.' 'Oh, I see.' After breakfast Antony was wondering what he should do with himself when there came a rat-tat-tat to the little brass knocker, and, without waiting for a 'come in,' enter Biffins Lee. 'Morning,' he nodded. 'Morning, Mr Lee. Take a seat.' 'That's what I came to do.' He excavated a huge cigar and was just about to light up, when---- 'Hold a moment,' said Antony. 'If ever I become master of this charming palace-on-wheels I will not permit even a duke to smoke and spoil the beautiful curtains.'