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Mulkins, my companion. A gudgeon. I sent her off to her room to be rid of her. Well now, let us all get acquainted. I want to hear all about your life, Augusta. ”
    “ How long do you propose staying at Willowcrest, Grandma? ” Whewett asked rather quickly, to divert the lady ’ s interest.
    The adults sipped their wine, while the alleged child drank her lemonade. “ Only a short visit, ” she told him. “ As I said in my letter to you, I wanted to see the old place before selling it off. There is no point holding on to it, but I shall pick up a few mementos of the old days and decide what price to ask for it. You can help me there, Alfred. ”
    “ I will be happy to, but I can ’ t stay long. ”
    “ I know you can never spare two days in a row, but it won ’ t take two days to ride around with the bailiff and see what kind of decay John has let the place fall into. Gone to rack and ruin like the house, I make no doubt. This used to be a handsome place. I cannot think who had the saloon hung in purple, like a state funeral. Your visit will give Augusta and me a chance to get to know each other. We ’ ll like that, eh, Gussie? Just the two of us. You can tell me all about your lessons and friends and horses. Are you a bruising rider? ”
    Grace new Augusta rode, and said, “ Papa says I am good. ”
    “ Do you ride a real horse or a pony? ”
    “ A horse, ” she said, as some reply must be made.
    “ I got a bay mare for Gussie a year ago, ” Whewett added.
    “ Good! Excellent! Do you hunt, Augusta? ”
    Grace glanced to Whewett, who shook his head slightly. “ Not yet, Grandma, but I hope to soon. ”
    “ I was hunting when I was ten. I was a big girl for my age. Don ’ t dally. Don ’ t be frightened, just because you took that tumble a few months ago. Everyone takes a spill now and then. It is half the fun of riding. ”
    “ It wasn ’ t serious, ” Whewett remarked. “ No bones broken. ”
    “ How did it happen? ” the lady asked, throwing Grace into alarm.
    “ Augusta was never much good at ditches, ” he said, giving Grace a lead.
    “ I wasn ’ t hurt much, ” she ventured.
    “ A ditch is fine, soft falling. I never minded tumbling into a ditch, unless it was full of water, ” Lady Healy said, then mercifully turned her attention to the father to grill him on other matters. When dinner was announced, the masquerade was still successful.
    Grace was sorry to see no wine glass at her place, but at least there was a large meal that promised to satisfy even her appetite.
    “ You ’ re a good trencherman, ” the grandmother congratulated, which led Grace to believe she might request a second helping.
    “ No seconds, Augusta, ” Lady Healy said. “ You dumpy little girls don ’ t want to be taking seconds, or you ’ ll run to fat before you make your bows. You must watch every pound. If you were a ladder like myself, you might have as many seconds as you please. Put another slice of that ham on my plate, Whewett. There ’ s a good lad. Don ’ t allow your daughter seconds, or snacks between meals, either. If she is like her mama, she ’ ll be stuffing herself with sugarplums and marchpane every time she goes to town. Irene hadn ’ t time to spread before she died, but she was destined to run to fat. ”
    Grace looked forlornly at the plate of viands of which she could have no more and waited eagerly for dessert. She was permitted a pear and a piece of cheese, and as it was a special occasion, her grandma allowed her one macaroon to celebrate. An apple tart passed her by while her cook ’ s skill with this particular dessert was expounded upon. “ Nutmeg and cinnamon, and plenty of sugar. My, don ’ t it smell delicious! ” The old dame cleaned her plate quickly and passed it along for another slice.
    Watching Grace follow every bite with her eyes, Whewett said, “ Don ’ t you think we might let Augusta have a piece on this special day? ”
    “ She had a macaroon. Don ’ t