Always in her early dreams of affluence she had pictured holidays, the excitement of traveling, and rapid changes of scene; yet, although since they first came to Vine-Pits they had not been away for a single staying holiday, she had no sense of missing something that might have been enjoyed.  It would be absurd to drag Dale away from home while he was so busy.  For herself it seemed quite sufficient change and excitement to drive over to Old Manninglea for an afternoon’s severe shopping about six times a year.

Now, of a sudden, Dale himself offered to give her a day out at the very first opportunity.  Little Rachel had never seen the sea, and expressed a strong desire to look upon the wonders of the deep; so daddy promised to take her and her mother to Rodhaven Pier directly he was free enough to do so.  In the end he chose a Sunday for this treat, saying that the better the day the better the deed.

He came out of chapel before the sermon; they dined at noon, and started in good time to catch the train at Rodchurch Road.  At the moment of departure, when the horse and wagonette stood ready, and Dale in his silk hat, black coat, and dogskin gloves was about to mount the box-seat, the boy Billy began to howl most pitifully because he was being left behind.  Mavis, whose heartstrings were torn by the sight of her angel’s tears and the sound of his yells, looked at Dale appealingly.

“All right,” said Dale.  “Will you behave yourself, Billy, if we take you?”

But this meant taking Norah too, because obviously Mavis could not manage both children unaided.

“Norah,” said Dale, impressively, “I give you two minutes, and no more, to get yourself and the boy ready.”

Mavis, overjoyed, put Rachel in the back of the wagonette, took her seat by her husband’s side, and with sprightly chat endeavored to make two long minutes seem two short ones.

“How nice the horse looks!  Will, I do feel we are all in luck.  Such a fine day too.  Do you think your top hat is necessary?  Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in your straw?”

“May be—­but I don’t think it would be the thing,” said Dale.  “We shall be sure to meet a lot of people we know.”

“I only thought you’d get it so dusty.  Is it your best or the old one?”

He did not answer, because just then Norah and Billy came rushing down the garden path.

It proved an altogether delightful excursion.  There was so little in it really, and yet long years afterward Mavis sometimes thought of it as perhaps the happiest day of her life.  They drove through Rodchurch, past the post office, the church, and other interesting sights; then along the broader road beneath big trees, to the railway station.  Billy sat between his parents, and did not behave too well, wriggling, contorting himself, threatening to jump out, and even grabbing for the reins.

“It’s his excitement,” said Norah.