Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/198

Rh eleven in the morning. Doctor's orders again. Yes, every day. Yes, that was all. If they thought of anything else they could always mention it.

The guests disposed of, the girls sought Gladys. They found her in the kitchen just concluding an informal banquet with Mr. Simmons. Both faces were radiant.

The girls, who had never before seen Mr. Simmons at his ease, looked with wondering eyes, for the fat man was transfigured. But even as they looked the mask of shyness fell on him again, and he was as they had always known him.

"We don't know how to thank you," said Jane.

"No need, miss,"said Mr. Simmons; "it's been a pleasure to oblige you, let alone obliging my boss, and not to say nothing about pleasant company."

"Mr. Simmons does go on so," said Gladys with a giggling toss of her head. She had found time to put on a transparent rainbow-radiant blouse and a string of green glass beads.

"I don't know how you'll manage for the rest of the day," said Mr. Simmons, "but I'll come round and see to the dinner to-morrow, miss, and till you get another cook. The last one's no loss, from what I can see—not a pan clean nor yet a plate. Miss Gladys and me, we had to wash every mortal thing. But all's clean now," he said, with proper pride. "Don't keep thanking me, miss. I'll be round to-morrow."

But to-morrow brought Mrs. Doveton.

"Of course, miss, I couldn't stand aside, with you in all this upset," she said, and fell to work.

And when Mr. Simmons came all that could be done was to ask him to stay to supper. He stayed, and it is to be recorded that even Mrs. Doveton was heard to laugh. Mr. Simmons was, plainly, a wit, but only in his own circles; outside them he could not shine. Neither Jane nor Lucilla ever heard him say anything amusing. But Gladys, it seems, did.

And Gladys was inclined to resent Mrs. Doveton. But on Gladys's day out she appeared before her mistresses,