Yes; they were as homely as ever at Highgate, though in the midst of plenty; for Mrs Jared said that she could never settle to the ways adopted by some people, even if she had a million a week. And now she was away inspecting a regiment of white jam-pots suffering from an attack of mould; so if there was any cause for the ruddy glow in Patty's cheeks, it must have been due to a combination of Mrs Jared's unconventional behaviour, and the example set by Adam and Eve some little time since; though there is still the possibility of the fire being to blame. That afternoon glided away magically, and Jared was late for tea. It did not matter in the least, though he apologised for being so long away. And then what an evening was spent! for Canau arrived with Janet and a long black case, the sight of which set Jared's fingers strumming upon the table. Musical, of course, they were all the evening, and to Patty the notes now were those of love. But there was room for sadness even then, and Patty's heart felt heavy as she saw the yearning, eager, almost envious look in Janet's eyes, and thought of the poor girl's future, till she crossed the room, and told her that she should always be happy could they but be near. Volume 3, Chapter XXVII. IN THE REFLECTOR. Jared Pellet used to declare with a grim smile that he thought he had been more happy as a poor man in Duplex Street than he was now that he had inherited his brother's property and thriving business; for he had never known how much misery, poverty, and wretchedness was in the world before the secretaries of different charities began taking ample care to keep him well-informed upon the subject. Jared used to say he thought, he was not sure though, he almost found the money a trouble to him; in fact, it would have been a burden if he had not somewhat lightened it by the arrangement he made respecting Harry and the money brought by his mother into the firm. He did not now find so much time for dreaming over his old organ, sooner than part from which he would almost have given up the worldly goods now in his possession. The old house was kept on for some time in Duplex Street almost intact; and when it was decided to give it up, Mrs Jared had a good long cry over it, in spite of its pinched looks and bare rooms, but where she said that she had passed so many, many happy hours, gone never to return. Wonderful was the collection of odds and ends brought away to be deposited in the wealthy new home--one and all articles that it was declared to be impossible to leave behind. One was Jared's glue-pot, which showed its malignant disposition to the very last, and, after being wrapped up carefully in paper, proved to have a quantity of nasty, foul, sticky water somewhere in its internal regions, which ran out all over the other objects packed in the box.