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'tis so growed into her that 'twould kill her to take it out。 Ay；
she's very queer： you'd be amazed to see what valuable goods we've
got stowed away upstairs。〃
Back again came Mrs。 Day with a box of bright steel horn…handled
knives； silver…plated forks； carver； and all complete。 These were
wiped of the preservative oil which coated them； and then a knife
and fork were laid down to each individual with a bang； the carving
knife and fork thrust into the meat dish； and the old ones they had
hitherto used tossed away。
Geoffrey placidly cut a slice with the new knife and fork； and asked
Dick if he wanted any more。
The table had been spread for the mixed midday meal of dinner and
tea； which was common among frugal countryfolk。 〃The parishioners
about here；〃 continued Mrs。 Day； not looking at any living being；
but snatching up the brown delf tea…things； 〃are the laziest；
gossipest； poachest； jailest set of any ever I came among。 And
they'll talk about my teapot and tea…things next； I suppose！〃 She
vanished with the teapot； cups； and saucers； and reappeared with a
tea…service in white china； and a packet wrapped in brown paper。
This was removed； together with folds of tissue…paper underneath；
and a brilliant silver teapot appeared。
〃I'll help to put the things right；〃 said Fancy soothingly； and
rising from her seat。 〃I ought to have laid out better things； I
suppose。 But〃 （here she enlarged her looks so as to include Dick）
〃I have been away from home a good deal； and I make shocking
blunders in my housekeeping。〃 Smiles and suavity were then
dispensed all around by this bright little bird。
After a little more preparation and modification； Mrs。 Day took her
seat at the head of the table； and during the latter or tea division
of the meal； presided with much composure。 It may cause some
surprise to learn that； now her vagary was over； she showed herself
to be an excellent person with much common sense； and even a
religious seriousness of tone on matters pertaining to her
afflictions。
CHAPTER VII： DICK MAKES HIMSELF USEFUL
The effect of Geoffrey's incidental allusions to Mr。 Shiner was to
restrain a considerable flow of spontaneous chat that would
otherwise have burst from young Dewy along the drive homeward。 And
a certain remark he had hazarded to her； in rather too blunt and
eager a manner； kept the young lady herself even more silent than
Dick。 On both sides there was an unwillingness to talk on any but
the most trivial subjects； and their sentences rarely took a larger
form than could be expressed in two or three words。
Owing to Fancy being later in the day than she had promised； the
charwoman had given up expecting her； whereupon Dick could do no
less than stay and see her comfortably tided over the disagreeable
time of entering and establishing herself in an empty house after an
absence of a week。 The additional furniture and utensils that had
been brought （a canary and cage among the rest） were taken out of
the vehicle； and the horse was unharnessed and put in the plot
opposite； where there was some tender grass。 Dick lighted the fire
already laid； and activity began to loosen their tongues a little。
〃There！〃 said Fancy； 〃we forgot to bring the fire…irons！〃
She had originally found in her sitting…room； to bear out the
expression 'nearly furnished' which the school…manager had used in
his letter to her； a table； three chairs； a fender； and a piece of
carpet。 This 'nearly' had been supplemented hitherto by a kind
friend； who had lent her fire…irons and crockery until she should
fetch some from home。
Dick attended to the young lady's fire； using his whip…handle for a
poker till it was spoilt； and then flourishing a hurdle stick for
the remainder of the time。
〃The kettle boils； now you shall have a cup of tea；〃 said Fancy；
diving into the hamper she had brought。
〃Thank you；〃 said Dick； whose drive had made him ready for some；
especially in her company。
〃Well； here's only one cup…and…saucer； as I breathe！ Whatever could
mother be thinking about？ Do you mind making shift； Mr。 Dewy？〃
〃Not at all； Miss Day；〃 said that civil person。
〃And only having a cup by itself？ or a saucer by itself？〃
〃Don't mind in the least。〃
〃Which do you mean by that？〃
〃I mean the cup； if you like the saucer。〃
〃And the saucer； if I like the cup？〃
〃Exactly； Miss Day。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Dewy； for I like the cup decidedly。 Stop a minute；
there are no spoons now！〃 She dived into the hamper again； and at
the end of two or three minutes looked up and said； 〃I suppose you
don't mind if I can't find a spoon？〃
〃Not at all；〃 said the agreeable Richard。
〃The fact is； the spoons have slipped down somewhere； right under
the other things。 O yes； here's one； and only one。 You would
rather have one than not； I suppose； Mr。 Dewy？〃
〃Rather not。 I never did care much about spoons。〃
〃Then I'll have it。 I do care about them。 You must stir up your
tea with a knife。 Would you mind lifting the kettle off； that it
may not boil dry？〃
Dick leapt to the fireplace； and earnestly removed the kettle。
〃There！ you did it so wildly that you have made your hand black。 We
always use kettle…holders； didn't you learn housewifery as far as
that； Mr。 Dewy？ Well； never mind the soot on your hand。 Come here。
I am going to rinse mine； too。〃
They went' to a basin she had placed in the back room。 〃This is the
only basin I have；〃 she said。 〃Turn up your sleeves； and by that
time my hands will be washed； and you can come。〃
Her hands were in the water now。 〃O； how vexing！〃 she exclaimed。
〃There's not a drop of water left for you； unless you draw it； and
the well is I don't know how many furlongs deep； all that was in the
pitcher I used for the kettle and this basin。 Do you mind dipping
the tips of your fingers in the same？〃
〃Not at all。 And to save time I won't wait till you have done； if
you have no objection？〃
Thereupon he plunged in his hands； and they paddled together。 It
being the first time in his life that he had touched female fingers
under water； Dick duly registered the sensation as rather a nice
one。
〃Really； I hardly know which are my own hands and which are yours；
they have got so mixed up together；〃 she said； withdrawing her own
very suddenly。
〃It doesn't matter at all；〃 said Dick； 〃at least as far as I am
concerned。〃
〃There！ no towel！ Whoever thinks of a towel till the hands are
wet？〃
〃Nobody。〃
〃'Nobody。' How very dull it is when people are so friendly！ Come
here； Mr。 Dewy。 Now do you think you could lift the lid of that box
with your elbow； and then； with something or other； take out a towel
you will find under the clean clothes？ Be SURE don't touch any of
them with your wet hands； for the things at the top are all Starched
and Ironed。〃
Dick ma