"Soap and water they've always had, bless'em, but you've never seen'em dressed like this before." Before Mr.Vickers could frame a reply a squeaking which put all the others in the shade sounded from above.

It crossed the floor on hurried excursions to different parts of the room, and then, hesitating for a moment at the head of the stairs, came slowly and ponderously down until Mrs.Vickers, looking somewhat nervous, stood revealed before her expectant husband.

In scornful surprise he gazed at a blue cloth dress, a black velvet cape trimmed with bugles, and a bonnet so aggressively new that it had not yet accommodated itself to Mrs.Vickers's style of hair-dressing.
"Go on!" he breathed.

"Go on! Don't mind me.

What, you--you--you're not going to church ?" Mrs.Vickers glanced at the books in her hand--also new--and trembled.
"And why not ?" demanded Selina.