ialect. She brought out a verse of it
now with great effect:

"Cusn't ee zee the ca-akes, man?
And cusn't ee zee 'em burrn?
I'se warrant ee eat 'em fast enough,
Zoon as it be ee turn!"

And catching up a biscuit, carefully blackened beforehand by toasting it
over the gas, she flaunted it in the face of the embarrassed monarch.

The dramatic situation was slightly spoilt by the delay in the entrance
of the courtier, who ought to have come in at that psychological moment,
and didn't. The fact was that Verity, finding it dull waiting in the
passage, had run upstairs to make some additions to her costume, and had
miscalculated the length, or rather shortness, of the act. It is
difficult for the most accomplished actor to go on looking embarrassed
for any length of time, and as Fil's eloquence in the scolding line
suddenly failed her, there was an awful pause while the peasant husband,
with wonderful agility considering his rheumatism, hopped to the door
and called agitatedly for the missing performer. The courtier flew
downstairs like a whirlwind, tripped into the room, and fell upon his
red-stockinged knees to do homage to his sovereign, who rose
majestically and extended a hand of pardon to the now grovelling
peasant.

The audience, particularly that portion seated in the gallery, clapped
and cheered to such an extent that one of the trestles, which had been
carelessly fixed, collapsed, and sent a whole row of girls sliding on to
the floor, whence they were rescued speechless with laughter, but
uninjured. They came crowding round the performers to admire the
costumes.

"They're topping!"

"How _did_ you think of them?"

"I like King Alfred's legs!"

"Ingred, you look about a hundred!"

"Fil _could_ scold!"

"Verity, what was a courtier doing rambling about a forest in a blue
dressing-gown? It would get torn on the bushes!"

"I know. We told her so, but she _would_ wear it!" declared Ingred. "She
was just pig-headed over that dressing-gown!"

"Well, go and look at the Saxon pictures for yourself, in the history
book!" retorted Verity, sticking to her point. "You'll see the courtiers
in long flowing garments very like dressing-gowns. I think it was a
capital idea, and the best I could do. There wasn't another rug for the
kilt anyhow, and when other people have taken the best parts and the
nicest costumes, you've just got to put up with anything you can find
that's left."

"You did it