and get him some hot water."

"Yes, my lady," said Simpkins, and Gregory grew another inch all over.

And then Aunt May led the others upstairs.

Gregory finished his washing first, and walked to the dining-room,
which opened on to the lawn, and was very bright and sweet-smelling.
The walls were covered with pictures, and there were roses in blue
bowls wherever a place could be found for them.

By the wall, in a row, were five round baskets, and directly Aunt May
came in the five black spaniels, who were with her, went each to his
basket, and lay there quietly, with his head resting on the edge and
his eyes fixed on his mistress. Their names were Mars, Saturn, Orion,
Mercury, and Jupiter; and from time to time Aunt May called one to her
and gave it a little piece of food, while the others glittered with
expectation.

"Now," said Aunt May, "let's get on with our eatin', for I'm sure
you're all hungry, and I know I am. Patricia dear, do you think you can
eat solid things, or shall we get something else?"

Patricia, however, declared that she could eat anything.

"Mr. Bruce Avory," said Aunt May, "you're drinkin' nothing. Would you
rather have lemonade or barley-water?"

Poor Gregory! he knew what he wanted--lemonade--but he didn't know
whether he ought to address Aunt May as "My Lady" or "Your Ladyship" or
"Lady Rusper." He had tried to get a moment with Hester to ask about
it, but without success.

"If she was only our aunt!" he thought, and then said, without using
any name at all, that he would like lemonade.

Lady Rusper made them tell her the story all through once again, "right
from the beginnin'," as she called it; and just as Hester had got to
the end of her part of it a boy arrived leading Marshall, and Patricia
leaped up and rushed across the lawn to fondle her pony. Then she
dashed back for a piece of sugar, and was off again. The boy said that
the blacksmith, who was also a farrier, had seen Marshall, and declared
he was quite sound; but Snelgrove was done for completely, and the trap
was too badly smashed ever to be much use.

"Put Marshall in the stable," said Aunt May, "and have the trap brought
here."

At the news about Snelgrove Patricia began to cry again.

"Well," said Aunt May, "we must see what can be done. I dare say there
are more ponies in the world. But I suppose we shall all be driven to
motors before long. It's a great shame. I spend most of my time
detestin' the things; but they