"'Tis only to show you, young man," he said in a loud whisper.
"Will you kindly give it to me," was the answer. "I have to collect them."
"No, that you b'aint, I'm a-going to keep it; I've promised my lad I'll frame it for 'im."
The second guest seeing the difficulty refused even to show his card.
"We be a-going to frame it too. If you can't a-read it just to get the name in your head, I can't help you no further."
"Miss Whitburn said they were to be collected."
These two rebels had stopped the stream, and Lewis, seeing something was happening, dashed down to the rescue.
"Afternoon, sir; the young man wants my card of invitation from Miss Toney herself. I'd rather not come than give it to 'im."
Lewis was convulsed but soon set matters right.
"Pray keep them, but just show them as you come up. Miss Whitburn is waiting up there for you."
"'T'aint likely we'd give it up to _he_," said yet another visitor, casting looks of contempt on the footman who had tried to steal their precious cards.
The children, open-mouthed, clung to their parents, but the Thomas girls had been put first as they knew Miss Toney so well.
Up they came, men, women, and children, all sizes, dressed in varied costumes, and all staring hard at Toney, who, in her simple morning dress, was beaming with pleasure, and her eyes seemed to dance with glee.
"How do you do? How do you? Oh, Mr. Grant, it is good of you to come with your lame foot. Mrs. Chapman, the children are to go to their big room straight, lots of amusements for them, and they'll be well taken care of. Lady Carew and Miss Maud Hamilton have come to entertain you. Oh please, Mrs. Curtis, do shake hands (Mrs. Curtis was curtseying). What a lovely nosegay! How kind of you. Now, Miss Hamilton, will you take the first party round the house. There are about thirty here," and Maud went off.
"How do you do? This is nice of you to come. You're to go round the house anywhere except in Lady Dove's room, she's got a headache or something."
"Shan't we hurt the carpets, miss, with our boots?" said a patient looking woman, "and here's some of our last roses, miss, for your birthday. I'm sure we all wish you a very, very long life."
"Thank you ever so much," and Toney was already holding an arm-full of very tight posies. "Now, Mr. Waycott, will you take the second party. Show them my little room at the top of the house for they can see the tops of their cottages and chimneys from there. Sir Evas is coming soon. He had to see a bit to everything. Dinner's very punctual at six, so please don't stop too long."