d against streaming
window panes, we watched for the blurred progress of the lamplighter down
the street, as the one excitement of the day. Even our friend the Bishop
deserted us and went for a long stay in the south of France. Angel
developed a sore throat just before Christmas so we had no part in the
Christmas music in the Cathedral. The toy pistols sent by our father did
not arrive till a fortnight after Christmas, and when they did arrive, the
joy of possessing them was short-lived, for after Angel had cracked a pane
of glass with his, and I had hit Mary Ellen on the ear, so that it was
swollen and red for days, Mrs. Handsomebody confiscated them all as
dangerous weapons to be kept till we were beyond her control.

She gave us each a new prayer book illustrated by pictures from the Gospel.
I coloured the pictures in mine with crayons, and got my hands rulered for
it; Angel traded his with one of the choir boys for a catapult which he
successfully kept in concealment, with occasional forays on back alley
cats. The Seraph was immensely pleased with his. He carried it about in his
blouse, producing it, now and again, for reference, with pretended
solemnity. His manner became unbearably clerical. I think he felt himself,
at least, a Canon.

The winter wore on, and we became pale and peevish from lack of air, when
all our little world was quickened by the coming of the telegram.

It had come while we were at lessons. Angel and I were standing before our
governess with our hands behind our backs, when Mary Ellen burst in at the
door. I had been stumbling over the names of the Channel Islands, and I
stopped with my mouth open, relieved to see Mrs. Handsomebody's look of
indignation raised from my face to that of Mary Ellen.

"Is that the way I have instructed you to enter the room where I sit?"
asked Mrs. Handsomebody sternly.

"Lord, no, ma'am," gasped Mary Ellen, "but it's a telegram I've brung for
ye, an' I thought as it was likely bad news, ye wouldn't want to be kept
waitin' while I'd rap at the dure!" She presented the bit of paper between
a wet thumb and forefinger.

"You may take your seats," said Mrs. Handsomebody coldly, to us.

Angel and I slipped into our places at the long book-littered table, on
either side of The Seraph. We were thus placed, in order that his small
plump person should prove an obstacle to familiar intercourse between Angel
and myself during school hours; and, as our intercourse usuall