shaped—upon the heel of which he had been operating. 'The new schoolmistress's!'
'Ay, no less; Miss Fancy Day: as nate a little figure of fun as ever I did see, and just husband-high.'
'Never Geoffrey's daughter Fancy?' said Bowman, as all glances present converged like wheel-spokes upon the boot in the centre of them.
'Yes, sure,' resumed Mr. Penny, regarding the boot as if that alone were his auditor; '’tis she that's come here schoolmistress. You knowed his daughter was in training?'
'Strange, isn't it, for her to be here Christmas-night, Master Penny?'
'Yes; but here she is, ’a b’lieve.'
'I know how she d’come here—so I do!' chirruped one of the children.
'Why?' Dick inquired, with subtle interest.
'Parson Maybold was afraid he couldn't
