The big man, sitting at the foot of the bed, smiled. “God bless you, Oliver,” said he--“and get well.” Noll began to sup the fragrant broth with a spoon. Lovegood got up from the bed--coughed--blew his nose. Caroline caught his eye, and signed to him. He strode down the room to her. “Eustace,” she said, “I wish you would not spend your money on the boy. You have no right to stint yourself--but--my dear fellow, you touch my heart--and--I cannot scold you.” He stroked her shoulder: “Tut, tut! nonsense!” said he, “we must not grow sentimental before we are forty----” He was interrupted by the click of the door, and, looking round, found Victoria May Alice at his elbow. She said to Caroline: “My heye, mum, we is a-makin’ of a night of it!” Lovegood laughed and strode back to his seat on Noll’s bed. Caroline turned impatiently to the girl: “Yes, yes, Victoria--what is it?” Victoria May Alice sniffed: “It ain’t _it_, mum--it’s _them_,” she said--“two of them comic gentlemen,” she tittered, and pulled herself up behind a grimy hand--“as is always a-hangin’ about with the party from the the-ayter.” She jerked a thumb at Lovegood. “They’re on the ’all doorstep and says is Master Noll at ’ome to partic’lar friends--and I says I’ll go and see; but if they was a-comin’ into this blessed house they’ve got to put out them dirty pipes. It’s not nice of them a-callin’ on the gentry a-smokin’ that muck. I don’t like it. These here London people has no manners. They wouldn’t do it if they was callin’ on a duchess or a bandy-legged bishop, or people as keep a butler. But--they are so ridic’lous! Specially that--te-hee!--fluffy gentleman. Blime me--if I don’t go on to the the-ayter myself when I’m grown up. I calls that Life----” She stopped at the clatter of feet on the attic stairs: “O lor!” she said resignedly--“here they comes, bless ’em!” Caroline put out her hand and touched the girl’s arm: “Victoria, my dear child, don’t be so noisy, please.” “Beg pardon, lidy,” the child replied humbly, and with sepulchral hoarseness. There was a loud knock, and before there was time to answer it, Rippley and Robbins boisterously entered the room. Noll’s greetings were too boyish for whispered talk as they all found seats. Victoria May Alice winked at Fluffy Reubens. “_He_ ain’t dead yet!” said she. Caroline had scarcely returned to her work, when Victoria May Alice stepped stealthily to her side: “Mr. Fosse called just before these gentlemen, mum,” said she. “The silly hass wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I says, ‘Well, it’s scarlet fever if you will have it between yer bleery bicycle lamps,’ says I.” She put her lean little arms akimbo: “He’s so blimey pushing.” She put her hand up to her mouth and added confidentially: “I can’t abide Fosse myself----” A distant yell from below called: “Victoria-May-Yallis!” “Hullo!” said the girl, “there’s ’er voice a-yellin’ again.” She stole away softly. CHAPTER XI