The carrier stood silent with astonishment. Honor’s cheeks flushed with pleasure and surprise, so did those of Kate. ’Your grey!’ exclaimed Luxmore. ’I know her well. She’s worth five-and-twenty pounds.’ ’She may be. I do not know. I will not consider that. I do not want her just now, and shall be glad to lend her for her keep and a trifle. You are an honest man. Your family is like mine—come down in the world.’ ’Ah!’ exclaimed the carrier, raising his head proudly, ’I reckon Coombe Park is where I should be, and all I want wherewith to get it is a hundred pounds and a register.’ ’That may be,’ said Taverner; ’there were Luxmores in Bratton as long as there have been Langfords, and that goes back hundreds of years. I do not want to see you fall to the ground. I am ready to lend you a helping hand. You may fetch away the grey when you like. You will have to sign an acknowledgment, and promise to return her in good and sound condition. Always safest to have a contract properly executed and signed, then there can be no starting up of a misunderstanding afterwards.’ ’I am to have your grey!’ Oliver Luxmore could not believe in his good fortune, and this good fortune coming to him from such an unexpected quarter. ’There now! Honor said I was to go up to Langford and see you. She thought you might help, and ’twas no use in the world asking at Chimsworthy.’ ’Honor said that!’ exclaimed Taverner, and he looked at the girl and nodded approvingly. Then Luxmore, who had been sitting in his shirt-sleeves, took his coat and put it on, went to the nail and unhooked his hat. ’I don’t mind if I go and look at the grey,’ he said. He had sufficient prudence not to accept till he had seen. Whilst Oliver Luxmore was assuming his coat, Langford, leaning on his arms in the window, watched the active fingers of Honor, engaged in weaving a basket. Her feet were thrust forward, with the red stockings encasing them. ’Ah!’ said Taverner, half aloud, half to himself; ’I know a red spider that brings luck. Well for him who secures her.’ Just then voices were audible, bright and clear, coming from the lane; and in a few minutes up the steps trooped the younger children of the carrier, returning from school. Each, even the boy of thirteen, went at once to Honor, stood before her, and showed face and hands and clothes. ’Please, Honor,’ said one little girl, ’I’ve got a tear in my pinafore. I couldn’t help it. There was a nail in the desk.’ ’Well, Pattie, bring me my workbox.’ How clean, orderly, happy the children were! Each before going to school was examined to insure that it was scrupulously neat; and each on returning was submitted to examination again, to show that it had kept its clothes tidy whilst at school, and its face and hands clean.