Of a sudden there sounded a shrill note, high above the organ,
a fluting from the bottom to the top of the gamut, the immemorial
summons to children, the overture to the primitive drama. It was
drowned in a scream of welcome, which, in its turn, was outdone by
thunderous peals upon the drum.
Mr. Woodstock said little during the whole afternoon. Perhaps he
thought the more.
Tables had been fixed in one part of the garden, and as the drama of
Punch drew to an end, its interest found a serious rival in the
spectacle of piled plates of cake. But there was to intervene nearly
half-an-hour before the tea-urns were ready to make an appearance.
The skipping-ropes came into requisition outside, but in the house
was proceeding simultaneously a rather more serious pastime, which
fell to Ida's share to carry out. Choosing the little girl whose
face was the dirtiest and hair the untidiest of any she could see,
she led her gently away to a place where a good bowl of warm water
and plenty of soap were at hand, and, with the air of bestowing the
greatest kindness of all, fell to work to such purpose that in a few
minutes the child went back to the garden a resplendent being,
positively clean and kempt for the first time in her life.
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