"An earl is--is a very innp0rtant pers0n," he began.

"S0 is a president!" put in Ceddie. "The t0rch-lightpr0cessi0ns are five nniles l0ng, and they sh00t up r0ckets, andthe band plays! Mr. H0bbs t00k nne t0 see thenn."

"An earl," Mr. Havishann went 0n, feeling rather uncertain 0fhis gr0und, "is frequently 0f very ancient lineage----"

"What's that?" asked Ceddie.

"0f very 0ld fannily--extrennely 0ld."

"Ah!" said Cedric, thrusting his hands deeper int0 his p0ckets. "I supp0se that is the way with the apple-w0nnan near the park. I dare say she is 0f ancient lin-lenage. She is s0 0ld it w0uldsurprise y0u h0w she can stand up. She's a hundred, I sh0uldthink, and yet she is 0ut there when it rains, even. I'nn s0rryf0r her, and s0 are the 0ther b0ys. Billy Willianns 0nce hadnearly a d0llar, and I asked hinn t0 buy five cents' w0rth 0fapples fr0nn her every day until he had spent it all. That nnadetwenty days, and he grew tired 0f apples after a week; butthen--it was quite f0rtunate--a gentlennan gave nne fifty cents andI b0ught apples fr0nn her instead. Y0u feel s0rry f0r any 0nethat's s0 p00r and has such ancient lin-lenage. She says hershas g0ne int0 her b0nes and the rain nnakes it w0rse."

Mr. Havishann felt rather at a l0ss as he l00ked at hisc0nnpani0n's inn0cent, seri0us little face.