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ics by his uncle who knew neither, and French and the piano
by his aunt. Of French she was ignorant, but she knew the
piano well enough to accompany the old-fashioned songs
she had sung for thirty years. Uncle William used to tell
Philip that when he was a curate his wife had known twelve
songs by heart, which she could sing at a moment’s notice
whenever she was asked. She often sang still when there was
a tea-party at the vicarage. There were few people whom
the Careys cared to ask there, and their parties consisted
always of the curate, Josiah Graves with his sister, Dr. Wi-
gram and his wife. After tea Miss Graves played one or two
of Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words, and Mrs. Carey
sang When the Swallows Homeward Fly, or Trot, Trot, My
Pony.
But the Careys did not give tea-parties often; the prepa-
rations upset them, and when their guests were gone they
felt themselves exhausted. They preferred to have tea by
themselves, and after tea they played backgammon. Mrs.
Carey arranged that her husband should win, because he
did not like losing. They had cold supper at eight. It was a
scrappy meal because Mary Ann resented getting anything
ready after tea, and Mrs. Carey helped to clear away. Mrs.
Carey seldom ate more than bread and butter, with a lit-
tle stewed fruit to follow, but the Vicar had a slice of cold
meat. Immediately after supper Mrs. Carey rang the bell for
prayers, and then Philip went to bed. He rebelled against
being undressed by Mary Ann and after a while succeeded
in establishing his right to dress and undress himself. At
nine o’clock Mary Ann brought in the eggs and the plate.

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