Then she turned to Job.

“Gurd’s got a char-a-bank and a party on the way from Lyme, and he’s full up and wants the four-horse stable,” she told him.  It was part of Job’s genius never to be put about, or driven from placidity by anything.

“Then there’s no time to lose,” he said.  “We’re ready here, and now if Sarah will lend a hand at the table over there in the shade for the party of six—­”

“Lord!  I’d forgotten them.”

“I hadn’t,” he answered.  “They’re cutting in the kitchen now and the party’s due at four.  So you’ll have them very near off your hands before the big lot comes.  I’ll see to the stable and get in a bit of fresh straw and shake down some hay.  Then I’ll take the bar and let Miss Denman come to help with the tea.”

He went his way and Sarah sat down a moment while her aunt arranged the flowers.

“There’s no tea-tables like yours,” she said.

“I pride myself on ’em.  A lot goes to a tea beside the good food, in my opinion.  Some human pigs don’t notice my touches and only want to stuff; but the bettermost have an eye for everything sweet and clean about ’em.  Such nicer characters don’t like poultry messing round and common things in sight while they eat and drink.  I know what I feel myself about a clean cloth and a bunch of fine flowers on the table, and many people are quite as particular as me.  I train the girls up to take a pride in such things, and now and again a visitor will thank me for it.”

“I could have brought a bunch of flowers from our little garden,” said Sarah.

“It would be coals to Newcastle, my dear.  We make a feature of ’em.  Job Legg understands the ways of ’em, and you see the result.  You can pick all day from my herbaceous border and not miss what you take.”

“Nobody grows sweet peas like yours.”

“Job again.  He’s mastered the sweet pea in a manner given to few.  He’ll bring out four on a stalk, and think nothing of it.”

“Mister Best, our foreman, is wonderful in a garden, too,” answered Sarah.  “And a great fruit grower also.”

“That reminds me.  I’ve got a fine dish of greengages for this party.  In the season I fling in a bit of fruit sometimes.  It always comes as a pleasant surprise to tea people that they ain’t called to pay extra for fruit.”

She went her way and Sarah turned to a lesser entertainment under preparation in a shady corner of the garden.

A girl of the house was already busy there, and the guests had arrived.  They were hot and thirsty.  Some sat on the grass and fanned themselves.  A young man did juggling feats with the croquet balls for the amusement of two young women.

Not until half-past six came any pause, but after that hour the tea drinkers thinned off; the big party had come and gone; the smaller groups were all attended to and tea was served in Mrs. Northover’s private sitting-room behind the bar for herself, Sarah and the barmaid.  Being refreshed and rested, Mrs. Northover turned to the affairs of her niece.  At the same moment Mr. Legg came in.