my dear," and I handed her the
book.

In silence my sister read the famous lines. Then she laid the book
down, and slipped an arm round my neck.

"Boy," she said, "you flatter me, but I can sit on my hair."

Then and there it was decided to illustrate Cervantes.

"And Sancho can wear his governor's dress," said Jill.

"Quarter of an hour back," said Berry, "-I told you that it was no
good ordering the wild horses, because nothing would induce me to go.
Since then my left ear has been burned, as with a hot iron. Under the
circumstances it is hardly likely that--"

"Oh dear," said Daphne wearily.

I reached for the telephone and picked up the receiver.

"Number, please."

"Exchange," I said, "there is here a fat swab."

"What?"

"Swab," said I. "I'll spell it. S for soldier, W, A for apple, B for
Baldwin."

"Have you a complaint to make?"

"That's it," said I:

"About this swab. You see, he won't go to the ball. His ticket has
been bought, his role chosen, his face passed over. And yet--"

"Mayfair supervisor," said a voice.

"That's done it," said I.

"I mean--er--Supervisor."

"Speaking."

"I want to complain about our swab here."

"Oh yes. Can you tell me what's wrong with it?"

"I think its liver must be out of order."

"Very well. I'll report it to the engineers. They'll send a man down
to-morrow."

"Thanks awfully."

"Good-bye."

I replaced the receiver and crossed to where Berry was sitting, nursing
his wounded ear.

"They're going to report you to the engineers," I said shortly. "A man
will be down to-morrow."

"As for you," said my brother-in-law, "I take it your solicitors will
accept service. For the others, what shall I say? Just because I
hesitate to put off my mantle of dignity and abase this noble intellect
by associating with a herd of revellers and--er--"

"Libertines?" said Jonah.

"Toss-pots, my ears are to be burned and foul aspersions cast upon a
liver, till then spotless. Am I discouraged? No. Emboldened rather.
In short, I will attend the rout."

"At last," sighed Daphne.

"My dear. I ordered the supper yesterday. We're sharing a table with
the Scarlets. But you needn't have burned my ear."

"Only means some one was talking about you," said Daphne. "Why did you
say you weren't going?"

"A passion for perversity," said I.

Berry stole a cautious glance at the time. The hands stood at a
quarter past three. A slow grin spread o