t into the
kitchen. When we got through, blest ef she didn't ask me to wash out the
dish-towels while she filled the lamps! Now----"

The growing amazement in the round, open eyes and shaking curls of her
audience brought Rebecca once more to a standstill. Evidently some
further explanation of this unwonted state of things would be expected.
To gain time for further invention, Rebecca rose and carried her
knitting to the window as though to pick up a stitch. Mechanically she
glanced down into the court-yard, where there was now a large
assemblage, and uttered an exclamation of astonishment.

"Gracious alive!" she cried. "If there ain't a bicycle! Well, well,
don't that look nat'ral, now! Makes me feel homesick."

She turned to her companions, each of whom was ceremoniously standing,
but all showing clearly in their faces the curiosity which consumed
them.

"Come 'long!" said Rebecca, smiling. "Come one and all! I'm blest ef ye
don't make me think of Si Pray's dog waitin' to be whistled fer when Si
goes out to walk."

The obedience to this summons was prompt and willing, and Rebecca turned
again to observe those who came with the mysterious bicycle.

"Land o' sunshine!" she exclaimed, "did ye ever see sech a fat man as
that! Do any of you girls know who 'tis?"

"'Tis Sir Percevall Hart, harbinger to the Queen, I ween," Clarissa
replied.

"Gracious!" said Rebecca, anxiously. "I do hope now he ain't bringin'
any _very_ bad news!"

"Wherefore should he, your Highness?" said Clarissa.

"Why, if he's a harbinger of woe--ain't that what they call 'em?" she
spoke, with some timidity.

"Nay," said the Lady Margaret. "Sir Percevall is reputed a wit and a
pleasant companion, your Highness. He is harbinger to the Queen."

"An' who's the man with him in black togs an' rumpled stockin's?" said
Rebecca. "The one holdin' the bicycle?"

"Mean you him holding the two bright wheels, your Highness?"

"Yes."

Lady Margaret could not answer, nor could any of the other attendants.
Could Rebecca have had a more advantageous view of the stranger, she
would herself have been the only one in the palace to recognize him. She
could only see his hat and his borrowed clothes, however, and her
curiosity remained unsatisfied.

"That looks like Copernicus Droop's wheel," she muttered. "I wonder ef
somebody's ben an' stole it while he was away. 'Twould serve him right
fer givin' me the slip."

Then turning to Lady Margaret again, s