" "Oh, what a long time to wait!" quoth the younger Mortimers; "five months and a half to Eastertwenty-three weekstwenty-three times sevenwhat a lot of days!

John Mortimer's troubles on that head began very soon after the sending of his first invitation to Mrs. Melcombe, when the excellent elderly lady who taught the little Mortimers (and in a great measure kept his house) let him know that she could no longer do justice to them.