“Sissie, how foolish! Of course they have heads, or how could they be crowned?” The girl was silent a little after that, but presently she said, musingly, “I’m so afraid I shall forget—and I don’t want to forget—but I can’t quite remember what heaven was like.” “Sissie, what do you mean? Why, you never were in heaven!” “Oh, yes, Geoff! I was in heaven before I came here.” “What nonsense! I’m sure you have never been in heaven, at all.” “Haven’t I? Then where was I?” Geoff was thoughtful for a few minutes, and then he said, “I think it was like this: God thought He would like to have a little Sissie, so He said, ‘Let there be Sissie!’ and there was Sissie.” “Yes; I suppose that was it. Geoffrey, say a little bit of the ‘Fairy Queen.’” Geoff repeated a few lines which he had been taught, but his sister interrupted him. “Geoff, where is the Fairy Queen now?” “In heaven, I expect,” was the answer. “How long has she been there?” “Most all the time, I should think. You know, Sissie, our Lord was in the grave three days; but common people like the Fairy Queen have to stay longer—I should think about a fortnight or three weeks.” Here the conversation abruptly terminated, for Arthur Knight burst into a laugh so loud and startling that the children were quite disconcerted. “I am so sorry, but I really could not help it,” he said. And then the door opened, and Mr. Hancourt entered, looking very pale and anxious. “Oh, Mr. Arthur,” he said, “I am sorry to see you here. I hoped you were at home. I am afraid there will be a riot this evening. The men who are disappointed are swearing that they will seek your father and compel him to listen to them. Indeed, they are talking very foolishly and wildly about revenge, and all that sort of thing.” “Your money or your life, I suppose?” “Exactly. It is a great pity that Mr. Knight lives so near the works. Most people reside a long way from their places of business, somewhere in the country, where their men cannot find them; but Mr. Knight has not chosen to do this, and as the men know where to find him they are going to march to his house. And they talk about having a band, and I am afraid they have a great many sympathisers and friends.” “I came to ask you if you could give me any advice, or say what can be done.” “I am afraid it is too late to do anything.” “In any case I must hasten home and stand by my father. Will you come with me?” As soon as a cab could be procured they drove away, telling the driver to make all possible speed. But the crowd reached Brent House before them, and it was a more ugly crowd than that of the week before. As Hancourt and Arthur entered the gate, Mr. Knight showed himself at the window, and this was a signal for all sorts of cries and execrations.