“Not a doubt of it! Sooner than see you sitting out, she’d dance with you herself. And about her note--so it is all settled, Letty. You will be down here at eleven o’clock to-morrow; bring a large ball of twine, and a pair of scissors, and Miss Hoare, the schoolmistress, will start you. Remember I shall expect you and Lancelot to turn out the most beautiful pulpit that has ever been seen in Thornby.” “I can only say that I will do my best,” said Letty, rising. “What! you are not going yet?” “I am afraid I must. Aunt Dorothy has quantities of things she wants me to do this evening--there’s the ticketing for the Christmas Tree.” “Oh, poor child, I don’t envy you,” said Mrs. Denton with upraised hands. “Well, in that case, I won’t detain you--Lancelot will escort you home,” and subsequently he and the young lady left the room together; she protesting, he assuring her that if she didn’t mind, he would be glad to make the stroll an excuse for a pipe. Strange to record, until that evening, Letty had never realised how short was the distance between the Rectory and The Holt! Here in the entrance hall she encountered her aunt; Mrs. Fen, who was overwhelmed with affairs, wore a frowning brow, and carried half a dozen parcels and a Directory. “Who was that I heard speaking just now?” she enquired sharply; “it sounded like a man’s voice?” “It was only Mr. Lumley, Mrs. Denton’s nephew; he walked home with me.” “Oh, so he is here, is he?” she remarked over her shoulder, as she swept into the smoking-room. “Is that Lancelot Lumley you are talking of?” enquired Colonel Fenchurch, who was reading. “I suppose he bicycled over to spend Christmas--they find it hatefully dull without Mabel. You’d better ask him up to lunch, or something.” “I think at this time of the year, when one has so much to do,” and Mrs. Fenchurch shot a glance at her husband, and then at Letty, “people don’t expect to be entertained.” “Of course not,” agreed the Colonel; “I expect Lumley to entertain _me_--you forget that he is in my old regiment. I want to hear how the old corps is getting along. To think that a boy who joined a few years before I left, is commanding them now!” “Oh, very well, Tom, then do as you like--ask him up to lunch or dinner.” “He is an awfully good sort,” Colonel Fenchurch explained to Letty; “one of my favourites--none of your ‘haw-haw’ chaps. His father is a poor parson, and this boy has worked himself on--getting scholarships; he passed first out of Sandhurst. I believe he scarcely cost old Lumley a ten-pound note--he’s the hope of the family--such a good----” “There--there, Tom,” interrupted his wife, “that’s _quite_ enough about young Lumley! He doesn’t interest Letty, or me. Now, Letty, I can’t have you standing idle, run away, take off your things, and go out into the laundry and help Fletcher to ticket the things for the Christmas Tree.” * * * * *