no sleep.

When the servant brought him his imitation coffee--an imitation so
successful that Yram made him a packet of it to replace the tea that he
must leave behind him--he rose and presently came downstairs into the
drawing-room, where he found Yram and Mrs. Humdrum's grand-daughter, of
whom I will say nothing, for I have never seen her, and know nothing
about her, except that my father found her a sweet-looking girl, of
graceful figure and very attractive expression. He was quite happy about
her, but she was too young and shy to make it possible for him to do more
than admire her appearance, and take Yram's word for it that she was as
good as she looked.

CHAPTER XXIV: AFTER DINNER, DR. DOWNIE AND THE PROFESSORS WOULD BE GLAD
TO KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE ABOUT SUNCHILDISM

It was about six when George's _fiancee_ left the house, and as soon as
she had done so, Yram began to see about the rug and the best substitutes
she could find for the billy and pannikin. She had a basket packed with
all that my father and George would want to eat and drink while on the
preserves, and enough of everything, except meat, to keep my father going
till he could reach the shepherd's hut of which I have already spoken.
Meat would not keep, and my father could get plenty of flappers--i.e.
ducks that cannot yet fly--when he was on the river-bed down below.

The above preparations had not been made very long, before Mrs. Humdrum
arrived, followed presently by Dr. Downie and in due course by the
Professors, who were still staying in the house. My father remembered
Mrs. Humdrum's good honest face, but could not bring Dr. Downie to his
recollection till the Doctor told him when and where they had met, and
then he could only very uncertainly recall him, though he vowed that he
could now do so perfectly well.

"At any rate," said Hanky, advancing towards him with his best Bridgeford
manner, "you will not have forgotten meeting my brother Professor and
myself."

"It has been rather a forgetting sort of a morning," said my father
demurely, "but I can remember that much, and am delighted to renew my
acquaintance with both of you."

As he spoke he shook hands with both Professors.

George was a little late, but when he came, dinner was announced. My
father sat on Yram's right-hand, Dr. Downie on her left. George was next
my father, with Mrs. Humdrum opposite to him. The Professors sat one on
either side of the Mayor. During d