l do it myself, if you please."

And before the astonished eyes of the meeting, the gold-pheasant
hopped upon the platform, and with as much ease as if she had been
Queen Bess dragooning her parliament, she gave what even the
astounded gentlemen felt to be a sensible practical exposition of
ways and means.

She had obtained the address of a warehouse ready to give such rough
work as the women could be expected to do; but as they were
unaccustomed to work at home, and were at present much crowded from
the loss of so many houses, and could besides be little depended on
for working well enough without superintendence, her plan was to
hire a room, collect the women, and divide the superintendence
between the ladies; who should give out the work, see that it was
properly done, keep order, and the like. She finished off in full
order, by moving a resolution to this effect.

There was a pause, and a little consultation among the gentlemen,
ending by Raymond's absolutely telling Mr. Fuller that it was a very
sensible practical arrangement, and that it _must_ be seconded;
which the Vicar accordingly did, and it was carried without
opposition, as in truth nothing so good had been thought of; and the
next thing was to name a committee of ladies, a treasurer and
auditor of accounts. There would be no work on Saturdays, so if the
ladies would each undertake half a day once a fortnight, the
superintendence need not be a burthen.

Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Slater undertook the first start and
preliminary arrangements, then each would take her half day in
rotation. Lady Tyrrell and her sister undertook two, Cecil two
more, and others were found to fill up the vacant space. The
chairman moved a vote of thanks to the lady for her suggestion,
which she acknowledged by a gracious bow, not without triumph; and
the meeting broke up.

Some one asked after Captain Duncombe as she descended into private
life. "There's a wonderful filly that absorbs all his attention.
All Wil'sbro' might burn as long as Dark Hag thrives! When do I
expect him? I don't know; it depends on Dark Hag," she said in a
tone of superior good-natured irony, then gathered up the radiant
mantle and tripped off along the central street of the little old-
fashioned country town, with gravelled not paved side-walks.

"Isn't she very superior?" said Cecil, when her husband had put her
on horseback.

"I suppose she is very clever."

"And she spoke capitally."