d, 'Mr and
Mrs Ffolliot presents their compliments to Mr Gallup, and requests the
pleasure of his company at a dinner-party'--I know there is a party,
for Dorcas did tell Em'ly-Alice there was going to be one; only last
night she was talking about it--it's downright blunt that note--I call
it----"

Eloquent laughed. "All the same I've accepted, and now do explain why
I can't sleep here instead of trailing all the way back into Marlehouse
at that time of night."

"If you can't _see_, why you must just take my word for it. You and
me's in different walks of life, and it's my bounden duty to see as you
don't bemean yourself. I'm always pleased to see you in a quiet way,
but there's no use in strangers knowing we're relations."

"What nonsense," Eloquent exclaimed hotly, "I've only got one aunt in
the world, and I'm very proud of her, so let there be an end of this
foolishness."

Miss Gallup wiped her eyes. "In some ways, Eloquent," she said
huskily, "with all your politics an' that, you're no better than a
child."

"I'm hanged if I can see what you're driving at," Eloquent exclaimed in
great irritation. "Once more, Aunt Susan, will you give me a bed on
Thursday?"

"Don't ask me, my dear, don't ask me. It's for your good as I refuse.
_I_ can see the difference between us if you can't, and when you took
on so with politics, and then your father left all that fortune so as
you could leave the likes of the Golden Anchor, I said to myself, 'Now,
Martha Gallup, don't you interfere. Don't you go intrudin' on your
brother's child. If he sees fit to keep friendly it shows he's a good
heart, but you keep your place.' . . . An' I've kep' it; never have I
been near you in Marlehouse, as you know--Not but what you've as't me,
and very pleased I was to be as't . . ."

"And very displeased I was that you would never come," Eloquent
interrupted.

"I know my place," Miss Gallup persisted. "I don't mind the likes of
the Ffolliots knowing we're related. . . . They're bound to know, and
they're not proud, none of 'em exceptin' Squire, that is to say, and he
wouldn't think it worth while to be proud to the likes of me. But I
don't want to hang on and keep you down, and there's some as would
think less of you for me bein' your aunt, so where's the use of
flaunting an old-fashioned piece like me in their faces. . . . If
you'll come out next day and tell me all about the party, I'd take it
most kind of you, Eloquent, that