“I expect it’s mostly talk,” said her daughter calmly, as she closed the street door behind her indignant parent. “People used to talk about you and old Mr. Wilders, and there was nothing in it. He only used to come for a glass of your ale.” This reference to an admirer who had consumed several barrels of the liquor in question without losing his head, put the finishing touch to the elder lady’s wrath, and she walked the rest of the way in ominous silence. Captain Barber received them in the elaborate velvet smoking-cap with the gold tassel which had evoked such strong encomiums from Mrs. Church, and in a few well-chosen words—carefully rehearsed that afternoon—presented his housekeeper. “Will you come up to my room and take your things off?” enquired Mrs. Church, returning the old lady’s hostile stare with interest. “I’ll take mine off down here, if Captain Barber doesn’t mind,” said the latter, subsiding into a chair with a gasp. “Him and me’s very old friends.” She unfastened the strings of her bonnet, and, taking off that article of attire, placed it in her lap while she unfastened her shawl. She then held both out to Mrs. Church, briefly exhorting her to be careful. “Oh, what a lovely bonnet,” said that lady, in false ecstasy. “What a perfect beauty! I’ve never seen anything like it before. Never!” Captain Barber, smiling at the politeness of his housekeeper, was alarmed and perplexed at the generous colour which suddenly filled the old lady’s cheeks. “Mrs. Banks made it herself,” he said, “she’s very clever at that sort of thing.” “There, do you know I guessed as much,” said Mrs. Church, beaming; “directly I saw it, I said to myself: ‘That was never made by a milliner. There’s too much taste in the way the flowers are arranged.’” Mrs. Banks looked at her daughter, in a mute appeal for help. “I’ll take yours up, too, shall I?” said the amiable housekeeper, as Mrs. Banks, with an air of defying criticism, drew a cap from a paper-bag and put it on. “I’ll take mine myself, please,” said Miss Banks, with coldness. “Oh, well, you may as well take them all then,” said Mrs. Church, putting the mother’s bonnet and shawl in her arms. “I’ll go and see that the kettle boils,” she said, briskly. She returned a minute or two later with the teapot, and setting chairs, took the head of the table. “And how’s the leg?” enquired Captain Barber, misinterpreting Mrs. Banks’ screwed-up face. “Which one?” asked Mrs. Banks, shortly. “The bad ’un,” said the captain. “They’re both bad,” said Mrs. Banks more shortly than before, as she noticed that Mrs. Church had got real lace in her cuffs and was pouring out the tea in full consciousness of the fact. “Dear, dear,” said the Captain sympathetically. “Swollen?” enquired Mrs. Church, anxiously. “Swelled right out of shape,” exclaimed Captain Barber, impressively; “like pillars almost they are.”