She paused and stamped her little foot, and looked again out of the
window.

The coachman knocked at the door, and when she went down asked her
how long he had to wait.

She came back, and throwing herself on a chair, fairly gave way to
her mortification, and cried out, "It is too bad--too bad!--it is,
really."

"I'll tell you what," replied the Major. "Do you mind coming with
me? We will leave one of the tickets which I have bought, and we can
add a message that he is to follow, and that we will keep his place
for him. Put on your bonnet at once, and I will scribble a line to
him."

Mrs. Zachariah did not see any other course open; her wrath once more
disappeared, and in another moment she was busy before the looking-
glass. The note was written, and pinned to the ticket, both being
stuck on the mantelpiece in a conspicuous place, so that Zachariah
might see them directly he arrived. In exuberant spirits she added
in her own hand, "Make as much haste as you can, my dear," and
subscribed her initials. It was a tremendously hot afternoon and,
what with the fire and the weather and the tea, the air was very
oppressive. She threw the bottom sash open a little wider therefore,
and the two rolled off to Drury Lane. As the door slammed behind
them, the draught caught the ticket and note, and in a moment they
were in the flames and consumed.