Midas' riches. I do hate orchids."

"I wish them on their native rocks, poor things," said Gerald. "But
poor Fernan, you do him an injustice."

"Oh, yes, he does quantities of good works, and so does Marilda, till
I am quite sick of hearing of them! The piles of begging letters
they get! And then they want them read and explained, and answered
sometimes."

"A means of good works," observed Gerald.

"How would you like it? Docketing the crumbs from Dives' table,"
exclaimed Emilia.

"A clerk or secretary could do it," said Anna.

"Of course. Now if you have finished those flowers, do come out with
me. I want to go into Ponter's Court, and Fernan won't let me go
alone."

"Have you any special object?" said Gerald lazily, "or is it to
refresh yourself with the atmosphere?"

"That dear boy-—that Silky-—has been taken up, and they've sent him
to a reformatory."

"What a good thing!"

"Yes, only I don't believe he did it! It was that nasty little Bill