ing to stand for Percycross." That, or nearly that, was the
form in which the ferns were received. Newton was quite contented. An
excuse for entering the house was what he had wanted, and his excuse
was deemed ample. Sir Thomas, who was disposed to be very civil to
the stranger, had not much to say about his own prospects. To a
certain degree he was ashamed of Percycross, and had said very little
about it even to Stemm since his personal acquaintance had been made
with Messrs. Spiveycomb, Pile, and Pabsby. But the girls were not
ashamed of Percycross. To them as yet Percycross was the noblest of
all British boroughs. Had not the Conservatives of Percycross chosen
their father to be their representative out of all British subjects?
Sir Thomas had tried, but had tried quite in vain, to make them
understand the real fashion of the selection. If Percycross would
only send him to Parliament, Percycross should be divine. "What d'you
think?" said Clary; "there's a man of the name of--. I wish you'd
guess the name of this man who is going to stand against papa, Mr.
Newton."

"The name won't make much difference," said Sir Thomas.

"Ontario Moggs!" said Clary. "Do you think it possible, Mr. Newton,
that Percycross,--the town where one of the Percys set up a cross in
the time of the Crusaders,--didn't he, papa?--"

"I shall not consider myself bound to learn all that unless they
elect me," said Sir Thomas; "but I don't think there were Percys in
the days of the Crusaders."

"At any rate, the proper name is Percy St. Cross," said Clary. "Could
such a borough choose Ontario Moggs to be one of its members, Mr.
Newton?"

"I do like the name," said Mary Bonner.

"Perhaps papa and Ontario Moggs may be the two members," said Clary,
laughing. "If so, you must bring him down here, papa. Only he's a
shoemaker."

"That makes no difference in these days," said Sir Thomas.

The ferns were at last unpacked, and the three girls were profuse in
their thanks. Who does not know how large a space a basket of ferns
will cover when it is unpacked and how large the treasure looms.
"They'll cover the rocks on the other side," said Mary. It seemed to
Newton that Mary Bonner was more at home than she had been when he
had seen her before, spoke more freely of what concerned the house,
and was beginning to become one of the family. But still she was, as
it were, overshadowed by Clarissa. In appearance, indeed, she was the
queen among the three,