Sylvia produced in support of this idea her father's habit of juggling with a penny. "What did I tell you?" Clara exclaimed, triumphantly. "Take it from me, Sil, the two of them has a rare old time with this racing. I've got a friend, Maudie Tilt, who's in service, and her brother started off to be a jockey, only he never got very far, because he got kicked on the head by a horse when he was sweeping out the stable, which was very aggravating for his relations, because he had a sister who died in a galloping consumption the same week. I reckon horses was very unlucky for them, I do." "My grandmother got run over coming back from my grandfather's funeral," Sylvia proclaimed. "By the hearse?" Clara asked, awestruck. Sylvia felt it would be well to make the most of her story, and replied without hesitation in the affirmative. "Well, they say to meet an empty hearse means a pleasant surprise," said Clara. "But I reckon your grandma didn't think so. Here, I'll tell you what, my next afternoon off I'll take you round to see Maudie Tilt. She lives not far from where the Cedars 'bus stops." About a week after this conversation Clara, wearing balloon sleeves of last year's fashion and with her hair banked up to support a monstrous hat, descended into the basement, whence she and Sylvia emerged into a fine April afternoon and hailed an omnibus. "Mind you don't get blown off the top, miss," said the conductor, with a glance at Clara's sleeves. "No fear of that. I've grown a bit heavier since I saw your face," Clara replied, climbing serenely to the top of the omnibus. "Two, as far as you go," she said, handing twopence to the conductor when he came up for the fares. "I could go a long way with you, miss," he said, punching the tickets with a satisfied twinkle. "What a lovely hat!" "Is it? Well, don't start in trying to eat it because you've been used to green food all your life." "Your sister answers very sharp, doesn't she, Tommy?" said the conductor to Sylvia. After this display of raillery Sylvia felt it would be weak merely to point out that Clara was not a sister, so she remained silent. The top of the omnibus was empty except for Clara and Sylvia; the conductor, whistling a cheerful tune, descended again. "Saucy things," Clara commented. "But there, you can't blame them. It makes any one feel cheerful to be out in the open air like this." Maudie's house in Castleford Road was soon reached after they left the omnibus. When they rang the area bell, Maudie herself opened the door. "Oh, you did give me a turn!" she exclaimed. "I thought it was early for the milkman. You couldn't have come at a better time, because they've both gone away. She's been ill, and they'll be away for a month. Cook's gone for a holiday, and I'm all alone."