The peddler bowed, and opened the larger boxes on the floor, displaying gorgeous splendors in shawls, skirts, neckties, head handkerchiefs, aprons, gown patterns and vest patterns, in red, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, or all blended, a spectacle that almost took away the breath as well as dazzled the eyes of the delighted darkies. “Now choose what you will as parting presents, for I shall be going away in a day or two,” said Miss Fronde. And the darkies thanked her in a tumultuous chorus of delight, and took her at her word—largely at her word—for they had boundless faith in their mistress’ fabulous wealth. Hera chose prints and ginghams of the most brilliant colors to make gowns and frocks for herself and children, besides shawls and handkerchiefs of rainbow hues. Pompous, Nace and Puck rivaled each other in the fiery flames of red and yellow of the bandannas and scarfs, neckties, gloves and vest patterns of their selection. The children were decorated and delighted with imitation coral and gilt beads, and dressed dolls and gayly painted drums. Only Ceres groaned disapproval of the whole proceeding. “It was all wanity an’ wexation ob de speerits,” she said. “It was de scalirt ’oman at Babylon. It was de beas’ wiv seven horns. An’ dey was all gwine doun inter de bottomless pit ob de outer darkness.” And when urged to buy something she picked out the darkest grays and browns and rustiest blacks she could find in shawls and skirts and gown patterns for her own lugubrious wearing. Roma had a large bill to foot, but she paid it with delight, seeing how happy she had made her people, and believing how much she had helped the “poor” peddler. The man’s load was considerably lightened when he returned his half-emptied boxes to his cart, and, after thanking the lady for her custom, mounted his seat and drove off. He had been peddling around the neighborhood for about ten days, and had been making cautious inquiries about Goblin Hall and its mistress, or rather skilfully leading gossips to talk, and had learned as much as her neighbors knew of her life, and he had reported the same to his employer. But this was the first occasion on which he had visited Goblin Hall and enjoyed the opportunity of a personal interview with Miss Fronde. He had seen her under the most favorable circumstances, when her whole personality was irradiated with the delight of delighting. “That lady,” he said to himself, “is not pining after that child, or after anything else in this world. She is the very happiest lady, as well as the handsomest one, I ever saw in the whole course of my life. And so generous! Why, if I had been a real peddler, my fortune would have been made!” And these very words the detective also wrote to his employer, tilling the heart of the latter with gall, despair and bitterness. On the next day, Sunday, Roma went to church, where the young assistant conducted the services and the old pastor preached the sermon.