hat I conversed with him, for our patchwork interview
could not deserve that name. At the same time I noted with interest the
Philosopher's expression as he and Mrs. Liscombe turned over a pile of
music. If I had not known him so well I should have been deceived by
that grave and interested air of his--a slight frown of concentrated
attention between his well-marked eyebrows--into thinking him deeply
impressed by the lady's dicta and by her somewhat dashing manner as she
delivered them. But, familiar of old with the quizzical expression which
at times could be discovered to underlie the exterior of charmed
absorption, I understood that the Philosopher was quietly and skilfully
classifying a new, if not a rare, specimen.

When the guests had lingeringly departed I saw, as I went to my room,
three male forms leaping up the second flight of stairs toward the
Judge's den.

"Don't you envy them the chance to soothe their nerves with a pipe
beside the fire up there?" I asked Hepatica as, with hair down and
trailing, loose garments, she came into my room through the door which
we had discovered could be opened between our quarters.

"Indeed I do. They went up those stairs like three dogs loosed from the
leash, didn't they? Can one blame them?"

"One cannot."

Hepatica gazed at me. I stared back. But we were under our host's roof.

"Mrs. Liscombe really has quite a voice," said Hepatica, examining the
details of the tiny travelling workbag I always carry with me.

"So she has."

"It was a wonderful dinner, wasn't it?"

"It was, indeed. Would you mind having quite specially simple things to
eat for a day or two after we go back?"

"I've been planning them," admitted Hepatica.

"Mr. Hodgson's readings were--entirely new to me; were they to you? I
had never heard of the authors."

"Few people can have heard of them, I think. Several were original."

"Indeed!"

"Would you mind taking off your society manner?" requested Hepatica, a
trifle fractiously. "I'm a little tired of seeing you wear it so
incessantly."

"I shall be delighted," I agreed.

I sprang up and she met me half-way, and seizing me about the neck
buried her face in my shoulder. I felt her shaking with smothered
laughter, and had great difficulty in keeping my own emotions under
control.

We went home on Sunday afternoon, the Skeptic pleading the necessity of
his being up at an early hour next morning. By unanimous consent we went
to the evening s