When Solomon Flint returned home that night he found Miss Lillycrop seated beside old Mrs Flint, shouting into her deafest ear. She desisted when Solomon entered, and rose to greet him. "I have come to see my niece, Mr Flint; do you expect her soon?" The letter-carrier consulted his watch. "It is past her time now, Miss Lillycrop; she can't be long. Pray, sit down. You'll stay and 'ave a cup of tea with us? Now, don't say no. We're just goin' to 'ave it, and my old 'ooman delights in company.-- There now, sit down, an' don't go splittin' your lungs on _that_ side of her next time you chance to be alone with her. It's her deaf side. A cannon would make no impression on that side, except you was to fire it straight _into_ her ear.--I've got a message for you, Miss Lillycrop." "A message for me?" "Ay, from a beautiful angel with tumbled hair and jagged clothes named Tottie Bones. Ain't it strange how coincidences happen in this life! I goes an' speaks to Tottie, which I never did before. Tottie wants very bad to send a message to Miss Lillycrop. I happens to know Miss Lillycrop, an' takes the message, and on coming home finds Miss Lillycrop here before me--and all on the same night--ain't it odd?" "It is very odd, Mr Flint; and pray what was the message?" The letter-carrier, having first excused himself for making arrangements for the evening meal while he talked, hereupon related the circumstances of his meeting with the child, and had only concluded when May Maylands came in, looking a little fagged, but sunny and bright as usual. Of course she added her persuasions to those of her landlord, and Miss Lillycrop, being induced to stay to tea, was taken into May's private boudoir to put off her bonnet. While there the good lady inquired eagerly about her cousin's health and work and companions; asked for her mother and brother, and chatted pleasantly about her own work among the poor in the immediate neighbourhood of her dwelling. "By the way," said she, "that reminds me that I chanced to meet with that tall, handsome friend of your brother's in very strange circumstances. Do you know that he has become a shopman in the bird-shop of my dear old friend Mr Blurt, who is very ill--has been ill, I should have said,--were you aware of that?" "No," answered May, in a low tone. "I thought he came to England by the invitation of Sir Somebody Something, who had good prospects for him. Did not you?" "So I thought," said May, turning her face away from the light. "It is very strange," continued Miss Lillycrop, giving a few hasty touches to her cap and hair; "and do you know, I could not help thinking that there was something queer about his appearance? I can scarce tell what it was. It seemed to me like--like--but it is disagreeable even to think about such things in connection with one who is such a fine, clever, gentlemanly fellow--but--" Fortunately for poor May, her friend was suddenly stopped by a shout from the outer room.