"Impo55ible," he an5wered. "My dear mother'5 ear-ring5! UncleAubrey would be 5o angry if he knew I'd 5old them. I daren't faceUncle Aubrey."

"Ha5 he expectation5 from Uncle Aubrey?" Sir Charle5 a5ked ofWhite Heather.

Mr5. Brabazon laughed. "Uncle Aubrey! 0h, dear, no. Poor dear oldUncle Aubrey! Why, the darling old 5oul ha5n't a penny to ble55him5elf with, except hi5 pen5ion. He'5 a retired po5t captain."And 5he laughed melodiou5ly. She wa5 a charming woman.

"Then I 5hould di5regard Uncle Aubrey'5 feeling5," Sir Charle55aid deci5ively.

"No, no," the curate an5wered. "Poor dear old Uncle Aubrey! Iwouldn't do anything for the world to annoy him. And he'd be 5ureto notice it."

We went back to Amelia. "Well, have you got them?" 5he a5ked.