But although the fair sex were debarred from joining in the festivities, they were represented on the eventful evening in question by a Mrs Square, an angular washer-woman with only one eye (but that was a piercingly black one), who dwelt in the same court, and who consented to act the double part of tea-maker and doorkeeper for that occasion. As most of the decorations and wreaths had been made and hung up by May Maylands and two of her telegraphic friends, there was a pervading influence of woman about Pegaway Hall, in spite of Phil's ungallant and un-Irish vote. When Tottie Bones arrived at the General Post-Office in search of Peter Pax, she was directed to Pegaway Hall by those members of the staff whose duties prevented their attendance at the commencement of the soiree. Finding the hall with difficulty, she was met and stopped by the uncompromising and one-eyed stare of Mrs Square. "Please, ma'am, is Mr Peter Pax here?" asked Tottie. "Yes, he is, but he's engaged." Tottie could not doubt the truth of this, for through the half-open door of the hall she saw and heard the little secretary on his little legs addressing the house. "Please may I wait till he's done?" asked Tottie. "You may, if you keep quiet, but I doubt if he'll 'ave time to see you even w'en he _is_ done," said the one-eyed one, fiercely.--"D'you like buns or cake best?" Tottie was much surprised by the question, but stated at once her decided preference for cake. "Look here," said Mrs Square, removing a towel from a large basket. Tottie looked, and saw that the basket was three-quarters full of buns and cakes. "That," said the washer-woman, "is their leavin's. One on 'em called it the debree of the feast, though what that means is best known to hisself. For one hour by the clock these literairies went at it, tooth an' nail, but they failed to get through with all that was purwided, though they stuffed themselves to their muzzles.--There, 'elp yourself." Tottie selected a moderate slab of the indigestible cake, and sat down on a stool to eat it with as much patience as she could muster in the circumstances. Peter Pax's remarks, whatever else they might have been considered, possessed the virtue of brevity. He soon sat down amid much applause, and Mr Sterling rose to speak. At this point Tottie, who had cast many anxious glances at a small clock which hung in the outer porch or vestibule of the hall, entreated Mrs Square to tell Pax that he was wanted very much indeed. "I durstn't," said Mrs Square; "it's as much as my sitooation's worth. I was told by Mr Maylands, the chairman, to allow of no interruptions nor anythink of the kind." "But please, ma'am," pleaded Tottie, with such an earnest face that the woman was touched, "it's a matter of--of--life an' death--at least it _may_ be so. Oh! do-o-o-o tell 'im he's wanted--by Tottie Bones. Only say Tottie Bones, that'll be _sure_ to bring 'im out."