And Mrs. Selwyn was busy as a bee, and Mother Fisher was just in her
element here, in helping her; for flannel petticoats were to be given
out, and stuff frocks, and pieces of homespun, and boots and shoes, as
prizes for diligent and faithful service; or an order for coals for the
coming winter for some poor cottager, or packages of tea, or some other
little comfort. And before any of them quite realised it, the days flew
by, and in two more of them the King party would be off.
"It's perfectly useless to mention it," said the little old earl, quite
confident in his power to influence old Mr. King to remain when he saw
how happily everything was running on. "My dear sir, you were asked for
a fortnight."
"And I accepted for a week," retorted Mr. King, "and I go when that
time is up. We've had a visit--I can't express it to you, what a fine
time--as near to perfection as it is possible for a visit to be; but
day after to-morrow we surely must leave."
Tom was so despondent, as well as the old earl, that it was necessary
to cheer him up in some way. "Just think what a splendid thing for us
to be in the midst of that f?te for the peasantry," exclaimed Polly,
with sparkling eyes. "It's quite too lovely for our last day."
But Tom wasn't to be raised out of his gloom in this way. "We've had
only one game of cricket," he said miserably.
"And one afternoon at tennis, and we've been out punting on the river
three times," said Polly.
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