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XXVIII
"WELL, I GOT HIM HERE," SAID THE LITTLE EARL
They were really on their way to see the little old earl, after all!
How it came about, Mr. King, even days after it had all been decided,
couldn't exactly remember. He recalled several conversations in Paris
with Tom's mother, who showed him bits of letters, and one in
particular that somehow seemed to be a very potent factor in the plan
that, almost before he knew it, came to be made. And when he held out,
as hold out he did against the acceptance of the invitation, he found
to his utmost surprise that every one, Mother Fisher and all, was
decidedly against him.
"Oh, well," he had declared when that came out, "I might as well give
in gracefully first as last." And he sat down at once and wrote a very
handsome note to the little old earl, and that clinched the whole
business.
And after the week of this visit should be over, for old Mr. King was
firmness itself on not accepting a day more, they were to bid good-by
to Mrs. Selwyn and Tom, and jaunt about a bit to show a little of Old
England to the Hendersons, and then run down to Liverpool to see them
off, and at last turn their faces toward Dresden, their winter home--"and
to my work!" said Polly to herself in delight.
So now here they were, actually driving up to the entrance of the park,
and stopping at the lodge-gate.
An old woman, in an immaculate cap and a stiff white apron over her
best linsey-woolsey gown which she had donned for the occasion, came
out of the lodge and courtesied low to the madam, and held open the big
gate.
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