Not many minutes, however, were given to the guests for observation, for Mr Tankardew soon appeared in evening costume, accompanied by the young stranger who had taken refuge on the night of the storm in Samuel Hodges' farm kitchen. Mr Tankardew introduced him to the Rothwells as Mr John Randolph, an old-young friend. "I've known his father sixty years and more," he said; then he added, "my young friend has travelled a good deal, and will have some curiosities to show you by-and-by--but now let us have tea. Mrs Franklin, pray do me the honour to preside." While tea was in progress, Mr Tankardew suddenly surprised his guests by remarking dryly, and abruptly: "You must know, ladies and gentlemen, that my mother was a brewer." "Indeed!" exclaimed Mr Rothwell, in considerable astonishment; and then asked, "was the business an extensive one?" "Pretty well, pretty well," was the reply. "She brewed every morning and night, but she'd only one _dray_ and that was a _tray_, and she'd a famous large teapot for a vat; we never used hops nor sent our barley to be malted, what little we used we gave to the fowls; and we never felt the want of porter, or pale ale, or bitter beer." "It is a pity that more people are not of your mother's mind," said Mrs Franklin, laughing. "So it is indeed; but I shouldn't, perhaps, have said anything about it, only the teapot you've got in your hand now was my dear old mother's brewery, and that set me thinking and talking about it." It was not their host's fault, nor Mr John Randolph's, who acted as joint entertainer, if their guests did not make a hearty tea. The meal concluded, Mr Tankardew requested his young friend to bring out some of his curiosities. These greatly interested all the party--especially Mrs Franklin and Mary, who were delighted with the traveller's liveliness and intelligence. "Show our friends some of your sketches," said the old man. These were produced, and were principally in water colours, evidently being the work of a master's hand. As he turned to a rather un-English scene, the young artist sighed and said, "I have some very sad remembrances connected with that sketch."