Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/221

 the pigs, an' cows, an' reapers, an' mowers was sold, the auctioneer he moved on up to the big house. Then"—she clasped her hands and nodded brightly—"then, I remembered my ten dollars. Oh, I was glad! I went with all the people, an' then I met Mr. Hobbs. I told him I wanted to buy something nice for my own room. He was awful kind. He stayed right beside me and helped me to bid. Said he wanted to be neighbourly." She cast a triumphant look at Edmund, who sat with folded arms, and face averted, the picture of disapproval.

"Good old Hobbs," said Derek, grinning. "And what did you buy?"

"Here comes Snailem with them now—a great big lookin'-glass, an' a little, little gold chair, see!"

Snailem was turning in at the gate, balancing with difficulty a tall pier glass that stood on the seat behind him. The little gilt chair was tied on behind. He gave a sheepish glance towards the group on the porch.

"I paid seven for the lookin'-glass an' three for the chair. I mus' see that he gets them safe upstairs." She stopped in the doorway. "I forgot to tell you, Durek, that Mr. Hobbs, he's bought the house an' some of the furniture. He's goin' to live in that big place all by hisself, an' great big Mr. Jerrold in a cottage, little as little. How fonny!" She flew out to give orders to Snailem and Hugh.

Derek broke into noisy laughter.

"What's amusing?" asked Ted savagely.

"Everything. It seems to me that life is just one howling joke after another."

The sun had barely risen out of the lake when Derek led Darby through the stable yard. The air was sharp with a suspicion of frost, and sweet to the nostrils as a new-blown