Then the crowd closed up thick, and we heard excited talk and we knew we really HAD sold the Antiquities this time.
Presently the bonnets and coats began to spread out and trickle towards the house and we were aware that all would soon be over.

So we cut home the back way, just in time to hear the President saying to Albert's uncle-- 'A genuine find--most interesting.

Oh, really, you ought to have ONE.
Well, if you insist--' And so, by slow and dull degrees, the thick sprinkling of Antiquities melted off the lawn; the party was over, and only the dirty teacups and plates, and the trampled grass and the pleasures of memory were left.
We had a very beautiful supper--out of doors, too--with jam sandwiches and cakes and things that were over; and as we watched the setting monarch of the skies--I mean the sun--Alice said-- 'Let's tell.' We let the Dentist tell, because it was he who hatched the lark, but we helped him a little in the narrating of the fell plot, because he has yet to learn how to tell a story straight from the beginning.
When he had done, and we had done, Albert's uncle said, 'Well, it amused you; and you'll be glad to learn that it amused your friends the Antiquities.' 'Didn't they think they were Roman ?' Daisy said; 'they did in The Daisy Chain.' 'Not in the least,' said Albert's uncle; 'but the Treasurer and Secretary were charmed by your ingenious preparations for their reception.' 'We didn't want them to be disappointed,' said Dora.
'They weren't,' said Albert's uncle.

'Steady on with those plums, H.O.

A little way beyond the treasure you had prepared for them they found two specimens of REAL Roman pottery which sent every man-jack of them home thanking his stars he had been born a happy little Antiquary child.' 'Those were our jugs,' said Alice, 'and we really HAVE sold the Antiquities.