.
She had removed her hat and cloak in the passage, and now stood
before him in a plain white frock--short-waisted, and of antique
make, perhaps, but little the worse for that. She wore no ornament
but a red rose on her bosom; and if, as I do not believe, a shade of
apprehension had troubled Mr. Fogo, it would have taken flight as she
stood before him, challenging his eyes.

But the Twins!

Like the Austrian army, they were "awfully arrayed." So stiff and
shiny indeed was their apparel, and such mysterious sounds did the
slightest movement draw from their linen, that the beholder grew
presently as uneasy as the wearer. Each wore a high stock and a
collar that cut the ears. The neck-cloth of Peter was crimson; of
Paul, vivid amber. The waistcoats of both bore floral devices in
primary colours, and the hands of both were encased in gloves of
white cotton.

Mr. Fogo took heart of grace and bade them welcome.

"'Tes a warm evenin'," ventured Paul, rubbing a forefinger round the
inside of his collar.

"Uncommon," responded Peter, addressing his brother.

Whereupon, as if by preconcerted signal, they faced about and made
for the two most distant chairs, on the edges of which they took an
uneasy rest. Peter had brought his hat into the room, and now, after
gazing at it reproachfully for some moments, began to stow it away
beneath him, doing violence to its brim with the air of one who does
not count the cost. He was relieved by Caleb, who bore it off with
the pleasant remark--

"Now, then, remember what the old leddy said to make her guests aisy,
'I'm at home, an' I wish you all were.'"

"Silence, Caleb!" said his master. "I--I think, as dinner is ready,
we may as well be seated at once. Will you take the head of the
table?" he asked, turning to Tamsin.

She blushed faintly and moved to her place. The Twins leapt up,
performed a forced march, and took the table in flank from opposite
quarters. Mr. Fogo looked around.

"If one of you would say Grace--"

"Tamsin says it at home. I taught her mysel'," said Peter.
"Now, then, little maid, 'For what we'm about--'"

She spoke the simple Grace and the company sat down--with the
exception of Paul.

Now, Paul's position at table faced the fireplace, and as he raised
his head after Grace a large text in red and blue upon the
mantelshelf caught his eye, and held him spell-bound.

"'Paice on Earth an' Goodwill to-ward Men!'" he read. "Excuse me,
sir, but