'We have yet to see if this is worse than an Austrian or Italian
festival. See, we can look down from behind this yew tree. It
really is a pretty sight from this distance.'

'There's the cleric heading his little boys and their cricket, and
there are the tuneful party in the fern on the opposite side. They
have rather good voices, unless they gain by distance.'

'And there's a girl botanising by the river.'

'Sentimentalising over forget-me-nots, more likely.'

'My dear Mark, for a specimen of young England, you are greatly
behindhand in perception of progress!'

'Ah! you are used to foreigners, Aunt Margaret. You have never
fathomed English vulgarity.'

'It would serve you right to send you to carry the invitation to go
round the gardens and houses.'

'Do you mean it, aunt?'

'Mean it? Don't you see your uncle advancing down the road--there--
accosting the clergyman--what's his name--either Towers or Spires--
something ecclesiastical I know. We only waited to reconnoitre and
see whether the numbers were unmanageable.'

'And yet he does not want to sit for Micklethwayte?'