After they had returned from the church, the luncheon at the Vicarage
gave ample employment to Elizabeth's hands, and nearly enough to her
thoughts, in carving cold chicken, and doing the honours of Merton
Hall peaches, at the side-table; and she was very glad, when at three
o'clock the company adjourned to the quadrangle, to see the school-
children's feast.
The quadrangle was enclosed on the north side by the old church, on
the south and west by the alms-houses, and on the east by the low
wall of the Vicarage garden; there was a wide gravel path all round
the court, and here tables were spread, around which were to be seen
the merry faces of all the children of the two schools--the boys, a
uniform rank arrayed in King Edward's blue coats and yellow
stockings, with but a small proportion of modern-looking youths in
brown or blue, and deep white collars--the girls, a long party-
coloured line, only resembling each other in the white tippets, which
had lately encumbered Elizabeth's room.
Much activity was called for, from all who chose to take part in
supplying the children; the young ladies' baskets of buns were
rapidly emptied, and Mr.
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