e affair a tempest in a teapot,
because, in wanting consciously to marry two members of the family, he
had only attempted to do what I had done unconsciously when I and the
whole tribe of Talberts, remotely and immediately connected, became one.
Nevertheless, I addressed him coldly.

"Mr. Goward," I said, when the first greetings were over, "this is a
most unfortunate affair."

"It is terrible," he groaned, pacing the thin-carpeted floor like a poor
caged beast in the narrow confines of the Zoo. "You don't need to tell
me how unfortunate it all is."

"As a matter of fact," I went on, "I don't exactly recall a similar case
in my experience. You will doubtless admit yourself that it is a bit
unusual for a man even of your age to flirt with the maiden aunt of
his fiancee, and possibly you realize that we would all be very much
relieved if you could give us some reasonable explanation of your
conduct."

"I'll be only too glad to explain," said Goward, "if you will only
listen."

"In my own judgment the best solution of the tangle would be for you
to elope with a third party at your earliest convenience," I continued,
"but inasmuch as you have come here it is evident that you mean to
pursue some course of action in respect to one of the two ladies--my
sister or my aunt. Now what IS that course? and which of the two ladies
may we regard as the real object of your vagrom affections? I tell you
frankly, before you begin, that I shall permit no trifling with Peggy.
As to Aunt Elizabeth, she is quite able to take care of herself."

"It's--it's Peggy, of course," said Goward. "I admire Miss Elizabeth
Talbert very much indeed, but I never really thought of--being seriously
engaged to her."

"Ah!" said I, icily. "And did you think of being frivolously engaged to
her?"

"I not only thought of it," said Goward, "but I was. It was at the
Abercrombies', Mr. Price. Lily--that is to say, Aunt Elizabeth--"

"Excuse me, Mr. Goward," I interrupted. "As yet the lady is not your
Aunt Elizabeth, and the way things look now I have my doubts if she ever
is your Aunt Elizabeth."

"Miss Talbert, then," said Goward, with a heart-rending sigh. "Miss
Talbert and I were guests at the Abercrombies' last October--maybe she's
told you--and on Hallowe'en we had a party--apple-bobbing and the mirror
trick and all that, and somehow or other Miss Talbert and I were thrown
together a great deal, and before I really knew how, or why, we--well,
we