When the hound had gone, resentfully, the hedgehog--a sphinx-like, protestant ball--enjoyed the peace, and Hazel became again (as Reddin thought) quite the right sort of girl to live with. During the uproar they had not heard wheels in the drive, so they were startled by Vessons' intrigue insertion of himself into a small opening of the door, his firm shutting of it as if in face of a beleaguering host, and his stentorian whisper: 'Ere's Clombers now!' as if to say, 'When you let a woman in you never know what'll become of it.' 'Tell 'em I'm ill--dead!' said his master. 'Tell 'em I'm in the bath--anything, only send them away!' They heard Vessons recitative. 'The master's very sorry, mum, but he's got the colic too bad to see you. It's heave, curse, heave, curse, till I pray for a good vomit!' The Clombers, urgent upon his track, shouldered past and strode in. 'What the devil do they want?' muttered Reddin. He rose sulkily. 'I hear,' said the eldest Miss Clomber, who had read Bordello and was very clever, 'that young Lochinvar has taken to himself a bride.' This was quite up to her usual standard, for not only had it the true literary flavour, but it was ironic, for she knew who Hazel was. ''Er?' queried Reddin, shaking hands in his rather race-course manner. 'Introduce me, Mr. Reddin!' simpered Amelia Clomber. It was painful when she simpered; her mouth was made for sterner uses. They surveyed Hazel, who shrank from their gaze. Something in their eyes made her feel as if they were her judges, and as if they knew all about Hunter's Spinney. They looked at her with detestation. They thought it was detestation for a sinner. Really, it was for the woman who had, in a few weeks after meeting him, found favour in Reddin's eyes, and attained that defeat which, to women even so desiccated as the Clombers, is the one desired victory. They had come, as they told each other before and after their visit, to snatch a brand from the burning. What was in the heart of each--the frantic desire to be mistress of Undern--they did not mention. Miss Clomber had taken exception to Amelia's tight dress. For Amelia had a figure, and Miss Clomber had not. She always flushed at the text, 'We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts.' Amelia was aware of her advantage as she engaged Reddin in conversation. He fell in with the arrangement, for he detested her sister, who always prefaced every remark with 'Have you read--?' As he never read anything, he thought she was making fun of him. 'And what,' asked Miss Clomber of Hazel, lowering her lids like blinds, 'was your maiden name?' 'Woodus.' 'Where were you married?' 'The Mountain.' 'Shawly there's no charch there?' 'Ah! Ed'ard's church.' 'Edward?' 'Ah! He's minister.' 'You mean the chapel. So that's your persuasion. Now Mr. Reddin is such a sta'nch Charchman.' Reddin looked exceedingly discomfited. 'And when did this happy event take place?'