he greatest
possible success, to hide his disappointment. 'I shall be very glad, I'm
sure.'

'That's right,' said the locksmith, patting him on the back. 'It don't
matter who has 'em, Joe?'

'Not a bit, sir.'--Dear heart, how the words stuck in his throat!

'Come in,' said Gabriel. 'I have just been called to tea. She's in the
parlour.'

'She,' thought Joe. 'Which of 'em I wonder--Mrs or Miss?' The locksmith
settled the doubt as neatly as if it had been expressed aloud, by
leading him to the door, and saying, 'Martha, my dear, here's young Mr
Willet.'

Now, Mrs Varden, regarding the Maypole as a sort of human mantrap,
or decoy for husbands; viewing its proprietor, and all who aided and
abetted him, in the light of so many poachers among Christian men; and
believing, moreover, that the publicans coupled with sinners in Holy
Writ were veritable licensed victuallers; was far from being favourably
disposed towards her visitor. Wherefore she was taken faint directly;
and being duly presented with the crocuses and snowdrops, divined on
further consideration that they were the occasion of the languor which
had seized upon her spirits. 'I'm afraid I couldn't bear the room
another minute,' said the good lady, 'if they remained here. WOULD you
excuse my putting them out of window?'

Joe begged she wouldn't mention it on any account, and smiled feebly as
he saw them deposited on the sill outside. If anybody could have known
the pains he had taken to make up that despised and misused bunch of
flowers!--

'I feel it quite a relief to get rid of them, I assure you,' said Mrs
Varden. 'I'm better already.' And indeed she did appear to have plucked
up her spirits.

Joe expressed his gratitude to Providence for this favourable
dispensation, and tried to look as if he didn't wonder where Dolly was.

'You're sad people at Chigwell, Mr Joseph,' said Mrs V.

'I hope not, ma'am,' returned Joe.

'You're the cruellest and most inconsiderate people in the world,' said
Mrs Varden, bridling. 'I wonder old Mr Willet, having been a married
man himself, doesn't know better than to conduct himself as he does. His
doing it for profit is no excuse. I would rather pay the money twenty
times over, and have Varden come home like a respectable and sober
tradesman. If there is one character,' said Mrs Varden with great
emphasis, 'that offends and disgusts me more than another, it is a sot.'

'Come, Martha, my dear,' said the locksmith cheeril