He came out of chapel before the sermon; they dined at noon, and
started in good time to catch the train at Rodchurch Road. At the
moment of departure, when the horse and wagonette stood ready, and
Dale in his silk hat, black coat, and dogskin gloves was about to
mount the box-seat, the boy Billy began to howl most pitifully because
he was being left behind. Mavis, whose heartstrings were torn by the
sight of her angel's tears and the sound of his yells, looked at Dale
appealingly.
"All right," said Dale. "Will you behave yourself, Billy, if we take
you?"
But this meant taking Norah too, because obviously Mavis could not
manage both children unaided.
"Norah," said Dale, impressively, "I give you two minutes, and no
more, to get yourself and the boy ready."
Mavis, overjoyed, put Rachel in the back of the wagonette, took her
seat by her husband's side, and with sprightly chat endeavored to make
two long minutes seem two short ones.
"How nice the horse looks! Will, I do feel we are all in luck. Such a
fine day too. Do you think your top hat is necessary? Wouldn't you be
more comfortable in your straw?"
"May be--but I don't think it would be the thing," said Dale. "We
shall be sure to meet a lot of people we know.
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