Here Miss Crampton’s colour increased visibly.

“And when the machine is che-arged, we shall electrify them.  So that when yeou dew but touch one rod, it’ll make yeou jump as high as the next step, without any voluntary effort.  Yeou’ll find that an improvement.”

Here Swan ducked down, and laughed below at his ease.

“We air very scientific in my country.”

“Indeed!”

“Ever been to Amurica?”

“Certainly not,” answered Miss Crampton with vigour, “nor have I the slightest intention of ever doing so.  Pray, are you allowed, in consideration of your nationality, to whittle in Harrow School?”

This was said by way of a reproof for the state of the floor.

“Wall,” began Crayshaw, to cover the almost audible titters of the girls; but, distracted by this from the matter in hand, he coughed, went on whittling, and held his peace.

“I have often told Johnnie,” said Miss Crampton with great dignity, at the same time darting a severe glance at Johnnie’s back, “that the delight he takes in talking the Devonshire dialect is likely to be very injurious to his English, and he will have it that this country accent is not permanently catching.  It may be hoped,” she continued, looking round, “that other accents are not catching either.”

Crayshaw, choosing to take this hint as a compliment, smiled sweetly.  “I guess I’m speaking better than usual,” he observed, “for my brother and his folks air newly come from the Ste-ates, and I’ve been with them.  But,” he continued, a sudden gleam of joy lighting up his eyes as something occurred to him that he thought suitable to “top up” with, “all the Mortimers talk with such a peowerful English ac-cent, that when I come de-own to this lo-cation, my own seems to melt off my tongue.  Neow, yeou’ll skasely believe it,” he continued, “but it’s tre-u, that ef yeou were tew hea-ar me talk at the end of a week, yeou’d he-ardly realise that I was an Amurican at all.”

“Cray, how can ye?” exclaimed Aunt Christie, “and so wan as ye look this morning too.”

“Seen my brother?” inquired Crayshaw meekly.

“No, I have not,” said Miss Crampton bridling.

“He’s merried.  We settle airly in my country; it’s one of our institootions.”  Another gleam of joy and impudence shot across the pallid face.  “I’m thinking of settling shortly myself.”

Then, as Aunt Christie was observed to be struggling with a laugh that, however long repressed, was sure to break forth at last, Barbara led her to the top of the stairs, and loudly entreated her to mind she didn’t stumble, and to mind she did not touch the stair-rods, for the machine, she observed, was just ready.

“The jarth are all charged now, Cray,” said Johnnie, coming forward at last.  “Mith Crampton, would you like to have the firtht turn of going down with them?”

“No, thank you,” said Miss Crampton almost suavely, and rising with something very like alacrity.  Then, remembering that she had not even mentioned what she came for, “I wish to observe,” she said, “that I much disapprove of the noise I hear up in Parliament.  I desire that it may not occur again.  If it does, I shall detain the girls in the schoolroom.  I am very much disturbed by it.”