The Long Vacation | Page 6

journalistic business as well
as for the fete. Gertrude meantime had been choosing carpets and
curtains.
"For," said Lance, with a smack of exultation, "we are actually going

back to our old quarters over the shop."
"Oh!" A responsive sound of satisfaction from Geraldine.
"Nothing amiss?" asked Clement.
"Far from it. We let Marshlands to great advantage, and there are many
reasons for the flitting. I ought to be at head-quarters, and besides there
are the Sundays. We are too many now for picnicking in the class-room,
or sponging on the rectory."
"And," said Gertrude, "I dare not put his small family in competition
with his organ."
"Besides," said Lance, "the 'Pursuivant' is more exacting, and the
printing Will Harewood's books has brought in more business—-"
"But how about space? We could squeeze, but can you?"
"We have devoured our two next-door neighbours. There's for you!
You know Pratt the dentist had a swell hall-door and staircase, which
we absorb, so we shall not eat in the back drawing-room, nor come up
the flight which used to be so severe on you, Cherry."
"I can only remember the arms that helped me up. I have never left off
dreaming of the dear old step springing up the stair after the day's work,
and the whistle to Theodore."
"Ah, those were the jolly old days!" returned Lance, con amore.
"Unbroken," added Clement, in the same tone.
"Better than Vale Leston?" asked Gertrude.
"The five years there were, as Felix called those last hours of delight,
halcyon days," said Geraldine; "but the real home was in the rough and
the smooth, the contrivances, the achievements, the exultation at each
step on the ladder, the flashes of Edgar, the crowded holiday
times-—all happier than we knew! I hope your children will care as
much."
"Vale Leston is their present paradise," said Gertrude. "You should see
Master Felix's face at the least hope of a visit, and even little Fulbert
talks about boat and fish."
"What have you done with the Lambs?" demanded Clement.
"They have outgrown the old place in every direction, and have got a
spick-and-span chess-board of a villa out on the Minsterham road."
"They have not more children than you have."
"Five Lambkins to our four, besides Gussy and Killy," said Lance;
"though A-—which is all that appears of the great Achilles' unlucky

name—-is articled to Shapcote, and as for Gussy, or rather Mr.
Tanneguy, he is my right hand."
"We thought him a nice sort of youth when he was improving himself
in London," said Clement.
"You both were very good to him," said Lance, "and those three years
were not wasted. He is a far better sub-editor and reporter than I was at
his age, with his French wit and cleverness. The only fault I find with
him is that he longs for plate-glass and flummery instead of old
Froggatt's respectable panes."
"He has become the London assistant, who was our bugbear," said
Geraldine.
"I don't know how we should get on without him since we made 'Pur'
daily," said Lance.
"How old ambitions get realized!" said Geraldine.
"Does his mother endure the retail work, or has she not higher views
for him?" asked Clement.
"In fact, ever since the first Lambkin came on the stage any one would
have thought those poor boys were her steps, not good old Lamb's;
whereas Felix always made a point of noticing them. Gus was nine
years old that last time he was there, while I was ill, and he left such an
impression as to make him the hero model.-—Aye, Gus is first-rate."
"I am glad you have not altered the old shop and office."
"Catch me! But we are enlarging the reading-room, and the new press
demands space. Then there's a dining-room for the young men, and
what do you think I've got? We (not Froggatt, Underwood, and Lamb,
but the Church Committee) have bought St. Oswald's buildings for a
coffee hotel and young men's lodging-house."
"Our own, old house. Oh! is Edgar's Great Achilles there still?"
"I rushed up to see. Alas! the barbarians have papered him out. But
what do you think I've got? The old cupboard door where all our
heights were marked on our birthdays."
"He set it up in his office," said Gertrude. "I think he danced round it. I
know he brought me and all the children to adore it, and showed us,
just like a weather record, where every one shot up after the measles,
and where Clement got above you, Cherry, and Lance remained a
bonny shrimp."
"A great move, but it sounds comfortable," said Clement.

"Yes; for now Lance will get a proper luncheon, as he never has done
since dear old Mrs. Froggatt died," said Gertrude, "and he is an animal
that