Mrs. Potten's mind was in such a state of inward indignation that she
went past the chemist's shop, and was now within a few yards of the
Sheldonian Theatre. She had become forgetful of time and place, and was
muttering to herself--

"What a little baggage--what a little minx!" and other remarks unheard
by Bingham.

"I see you are admiring that semicircle of splendid heads that crown the
palisading of the Sheldonian," said Bingham, as they came up close to
the historic building.

"Admiring them!" exclaimed Mrs. Potten. "They are monstrosities."

"They are perfectly sweet, as ladies say," contradicted Bingham; "we
wouldn't part with them for the world."

"What are they?" demanded Mrs. Potten, trying hard to preserve an
outward calm and discretion.

"Jupiter Tonans--or Plato," said Bingham, "and in progressive stages of
senility."

"Why don't you have handsome heads?" said Mrs. Potten, and she began to
cross the road with Bingham. Bingham was crossing the road because he
was going that way, and Mrs. Potten drifted along with him because she
was too much excited to think out the matter.

"They are handsome," said Bingham.

Mrs. Potten was speechless. Suddenly she discovered that she was
hurrying in the wrong direction, just as if she were running away with
Mr. Bingham. She paused at the curb of the opposite pavement.

"Mr. Bingham," she said, arresting him.

He stopped.

"I must go back," she said. "I quite forgot that my car may be waiting
for me at the chemist's!" and then she fumbled with her bag, and then
looked thoughtfully into Bingham's face as they stood together on the
curb. "Bernard always lunches with me on Sundays," she said; "I shall be
glad to see you any Sunday if you want a walk, and we can talk about the
removal of those heads."

Bingham gave a cordial but elusive reply, and, raising his cap, he
sauntered away eastwards, his gown flying out behind him in the light
autumn wind.

Mrs. Potten re-crossed the road and walked slowly back to the chemist's.
Her car was there waiting for her, and it contained her weekly
groceries, her leg of mutton, and the unbleached calico for the making
of hospital slings which she had bought in Queen's Street, because she
could obtain it there at 4 1/2d. per yard.

She went into the chemist's and bought some patent pills, all the time
thinking hard. She had two witnesses to Gwendolen Scott's having
possession of the note: Mr. Harding and Mr. Bingham; and one