Orange’s cheek flamed, and the tears mounted. This man had been all obsequiousness before the crash. Suddenly a loud voice in her ear startled her. ’You’re a beggar, you’re a beggar! Oh, shock-ing, shock-ing! Not a penny. Cluck, cluck, cluck!’ Orange recovered herself at once. Near the door on a perch sat a white cockatoo with pink feathers on her face, and cold, hard, unsympathetic eyes, staring at her. ’Polly,’ said Orange, bitterly, ’what you say is too true.’ ’Oh, shock-ing! Does your mother know you are out? What o’clock, you beggar? Oh, oh! Notapen-ny! Hot cockles! Cluck, cluck!’ ’Polly, Polly, don’t make such a noise! Pa!—oh!’ A door opened, and a red-haired head appeared. It was that of Miss Bowdler. The moment she saw Orange she started back. The footman had gone to the greenhouse in quest of her. ’Oh, Sophy! dear Sophy!’ exclaimed Orange, springing forward. Miss Bowdler recoiled from the outstretched hands. ’Good gracious, Miss Trampleasure, what a time of day for a call! My dear Pa does not like to be interrupted at this time; I read to him his newspaper of a morning. You will not, I know, detain me. Yes, Pa! coming, Pa! coming in an instant! There have been disturbances in the North among the cotton-spinners. Pa is in a fever to hear the particulars.’ ’Hot cockles!’ said the parrot, sentimentally, putting her head on one side and winking. ’Oh, Sophie, do listen to me. I want so much to see you. I have a favour I wish to ask you.’ ’Pa, Pa! I’m coming.’ ’Tol-de-rol-de-rol!’ said the parrot. Then, swinging herself round on her perch, she went into convulsions of laughter. ’I pray you excuse me,’ said Miss Bowdler; ’I told John Thomas expressly to say I was not at home in the morning, because Pa is so particular.’ ’Do you hear?’ asked the footman, who had appeared on the scene, now in full condition, every button in its place. ’Miss Bowdler is NOT AT ’OME.’ Then he opened the door pompously. The red-haired lady took the opportunity to dart back into her room. ’You’re a beggar!’ shouted the cockatoo, with a look of devilry in her eye; ’you’re a beggar! Not a pen-ny! Shock-ing, shock-ing! Oh, oh!’ and then screamed and ran round and round her perch, laughing. The door shut with a slam behind Orange. She set her teeth and stamped her foot. ’Would that I were Mrs. Trecarrel for one day only,’ she said, ’that I might insult this wretched girl before county people.’