ores and startings awake again, of pipes
frequently lit and immediately going out, the guest, still perfectly
capable of coherent speech and voluntary motion in the required
direction, would stumble across the dark cobbles to his house, and doors
would be very carefully closed for fear of attracting the attention of
the lady who at this period of the evening was usually known as "Old
Mappy." The two were perfectly well aware of the sympathetic interest
that Old Mappy took in all that concerned them, and that she had an eye
on their evening seances was evidenced by the frequency with which the
corner of her blind in the window of the garden-room was raised between,
say, half-past nine and eleven at night. They had often watched with
giggles the pencil of light that escaped, obscured at the lower end by
the outline of Old Mappy's head, and occasionally drank to the "Guardian
Angel." Guardian Angel, in answer to direct inquiries, had been told by
Major Benjy during the last month that he worked at his diaries on three
nights in the week and went to bed early on the others, to the vast
improvement of his mental grasp.

"And on Sunday night, dear Major Benjy?" asked Old Mappy in the
character of Guardian Angel.

"I don't think you knew my beloved, my revered mother, Miss Elizabeth,"
said Major Benjy. "I spend Sunday evening as---- Well, well."

The very next Sunday evening Guardian Angel had heard the sound of
singing. She could not catch the words, and only fragments of the tune,
which reminded her of "The roseate morn hath passed away." Brimming with
emotion, she sang it softly to herself as she undressed, and blamed
herself very much for ever having thought that dear Major Benjy---- She
peeped out of her window when she had extinguished her light, but
fortunately the singing had ceased.

* * * * *

To-night, however, the epoch of Puffin's second big tumbler was not
accompanied by harmonious developments. Major Benjy was determined to
make the most of this unique opportunity of drinking his friend's
whisky, and whether Puffin put the bottle on the further side of him, or
under his chair, or under the table, he came padding round in his
slippers and standing near the ambush while he tried to interest his
friend in tales of love or tiger-shooting so as to distract his
attention. When he mistakenly thought he had done so, he hastily
refilled his glass, taking unusually stiff doses for fear