xclaimed "How lovely!" and
'Bias allowed "Not so bad," their tribute scarcely differed, albeit paid
in different coin. The rockets, however, won the highest commendation,
and a blaze of coloured fires on the surrounding hills ran the rockets a
close second.

Towards the close of the display a few drops of rain began to fall from
the overcharged clouds: large premonitory drops, protesting against this
disturbance of the upper air.

"That's the fine-alley!" announced 'Bias, as another detonator banged
aloft, while a volcano of "fiery serpents" hissed and screamed behind
it. "Let's run for shelter!"

He offered his arm. Cai did the same. But Mrs Bosenna--she had not
clung to any one this time--very nimbly slipped between them and took
Dinah for protector. She was in the gayest of moods, as they all
scrambled up the wet steps to the roadway, and so down other flights of
wet steps under the pattering rain to the shelter of 'Bias's
summer-house.

"Just in time!" she panted, shaking the drops from her cloak. "And I
can't remember whenever I've enjoyed myself so much. But--" as she
looked about her and over the table--"what a feast!"

It was a noble feast. If Cai had been busy all day, no less had 'Bias
been busy. There were lobsters; there were chickens, with a boiled ham;
there was a cold sirloin of beef, for grosser tastes; there were
jellies, tartlets, a trifle, a cherry pie. There was beer in a
nine-gallon jar, and cider in another. There were bottles of fizzy
lemonade, with a dash of which Mrs Bosenna insisted on diluting her
cider. Her mirth was infectious as they feasted, while the rain, now
descending in a torrent, drummed on the summer-house roof.

"How on earth we're ever to get home, Dinah, I'm sure I don't know!
And what's more, I don't seem to care, just yet."

Captain Cai and Captain 'Bias protested in unison that, when the time
came, they would escort her home against all perils.

"You can trust me, ma'am, I hope?" blurted 'Bias.

"I can trust both of you, I hope." Mrs Bosenna glanced towards Cai, or
so Cai thought.

"The jokes they keep makin'!" Palmerston reported to Mrs Bowldler.
(With the utmost cheerfulness he continued running to and fro between
summer-house and residence under the downpour.) "When Mrs Bosenna said
that about a merrythought I almost split myself."

"There's a medium in all things," Mrs Bowldler advised him.
"Stand-offish should be your expression when waiting a