. Macrae.
The other receivers all over the world don't get it, they are not in
tune. It is as if Jones could only appear as a wraith to Miss Smith, and
_vice versa_.'

'How is it done?'

'Oh, don't ask me! Besides, I fancy it is a trade secret, the tuning.
There's one good thing about it, you know how Highland landscape is
spoiled by telegraph posts?'

'Yes, everywhere there is always a telegraph post in the foreground.'

'Well, Mr. Macrae had them when he was here first, but he has had them
all cut down, bless him, since he got the new dodge. He was explaining
it all to Blake and me, and Blake only scoffed, would not understand,
showed he was bored.'

'I think it delightful! What did Mr. Blake say?'

'Oh, his usual stuff. Science is an expensive and inadequate substitute
for poetry and the poetic gifts of the natural man, who is still extant
in Ireland. _He_ can flash his thoughts, and any trifles of news he may
pick up, across oceans and continents, with no machinery at all. What is
done in Khartoum is known the same day in Cairo.'

'What did Mr. Macrae say?'

'He asked why the Cairo people did not make fortunes on the Stock
Exchange.'

'And Mr. Blake?'

'He looked a great deal, but he said nothing. Then, as I said, he showed
that he was bored when Macrae exhibited to us the machine and tried to
teach us how it worked, and the philosophy of it. Blake did not
understand it, nor do I, really, but of course I displayed an intelligent
interest. He didn't display any. He said that the telegraph thing only
brought us nearer to all that a child of nature--'

'_He_ a child of nature, with his belladonna!'

'To all that a child of nature wanted to forget. The machine emitted a
serpent of tape, news of Surrey _v_. Yorkshire, and something about
Kaffirs, and Macrae was enormously pleased, for such are the simple joys
of the millionaire, really a child of nature. Some of them keep
automatic hydraulic organs and beastly machines that sing. Now Macrae is
not a man of that sort, and he has only one motor up here, and only uses
_that_ for practical purposes to bring luggage and supplies, but the
wireless thing is the apple of his eye. And Blake sneered.'

'He is usually very civil indeed, almost grovelling, to the father,' said
Lady Bude. 'But I tell you for your benefit, Mr. Merton, that he has no
chance with the daughter. I know it for certain. He only amuses her.
Now here, you are clever.'

Mer