oo, and--and it was necessary
to provide light conversation in case everybody was too much taken up
with everybody else, and Jim Crowfoot would, no doubt, supply it. A very
short telephonic pause was succeeded by the assurance that he would.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Two days before this little gathering of friends was to assemble Jeannie
left Itchen Abbas for town. Victor did not go with her, for the
unpunctual May-fly was already on the river, and, since subsequent days
had to be abandoned, he preferred to use these. He thought it (and said
so) very selfish of Jeannie to go, since who cared what gowns she wore?
But it seemed that Jeannie thought this nonsense, and went. Also a
tooth, though it did not ache, said that it thought it might, and she
arranged an appointment in Old Burlington Street for Saturday afternoon.
She would meet Victor down at Bray.

The tooth proved a false alarm. It was tapped and probed and mirrored,
and she was assured that she need feel no anxiety. So in the elation of
a visit to the dentist over, she emerged into the street. There was a
willing but unable motor there that puffed and snorted, and did not do
anything. And immediately she heard a familiar voice.

"Why, Jeannie," it said, "what confounded and stupendous luck! Never
thought to meet you here. Going to Bray, aren't you? And so am I.
Old Puffing Billy is having his fit here this time. Or do you think
he'll have another on the road? I'll go down by train with you, or
I'll take you down in Puffing Billy. But we'll go together. By Jove,
you look ripping!"

Jeannie gave him both her hands.

"Oh, Tom," she said, "what fun! Let's go down in Puffing Billy. I've
been to the dentist, and there isn't anything."

Puffing Billy gave out a volume of blue smoke.

"Good old chap," said Tom sympathetically. "Hope he'll stick again on
the level.--Is it all right for the present, Stanton?--Get in, Jeannie.
Never saw such luck! Who would expect Puffing Billy to break down
opposite a dentist's, when you needn't have gone there at all. Jove! it
is good to see you."

The incredible happened. Once again the car broke down on the level, and
once again Stanton had to go upon his belly, like the snake, while his
passengers sat on a rug by the wayside.

"We shall be late again," said Tom. "Do you know, it is nearly six
months since I saw you last?"

Jeannie remembered the invitation he had received and refused.

"That's your fault," she said.