d waste of
time, but it does."

I kneeled down that I might the better appreciate their industry. The
jig-saw was called 'A Young Diana' and was alleged to be a reproduction
of the picture of that name which had appeared in the Academy the year
before. I hardly remembered it. I gazed admiringly at the two clouds
drifting alone at the top right-hand corner, the solitary hoof planted
upon a slice of green sward, the ragged suggestion of forest land in
the distance, and a ladder of enormous length, which appeared to
possess something of that spirit of independence which distinguished
Mahomet's coffin. In other words, it was self-supporting. After a
careful scrutiny, I rose to my feet, took a pace or two backwards, and
put my head on one side. Then:

"I like it," I said. "I like it. Some people might say it looked a
little crude or unfinished; but, to my mind, that but preserves, as it
were, the spirit of barbarism which the title suggests."

"Suggestion as opposed to realization," said Berry, "is the rule by
which we work. To the jaded appet--imagination the hoof suggests a
horse. It is up to you to imagine the horse. We have, as it were,
with an effort set in motion the long unused machinery of your brain.
It is for you, brother, to carry on the good work. Please pass out
quietly. There will be collection plates at both doors."

"You're not to touch it yet," said Daphne. "I want to talk about
abroad first. If we're really going, we must settle things."

"Of course we're going," said Berry. "I ordered a yachting cap
yesterday."

"What's that for?" said Jill.

"Well, we're not going to fly across the Channel, are we? Besides
that, supposing we go to Lucerne part of the time?"

"What about taking the car?" said Daphne.

"It's expensive," said Berry moodily, "but I don't see how else we can
satisfactorily sustain the flow of bloated plutocracy which at present
oozes from us."

We all agreed that the car must come. Then arose the burning question
of where to go. In a rash moment Jill murmured something about
Montenegro.

"Montenegro?" said Berry, with a carelessness that should have put her
on her guard.

"Yes," said Jill. "I heard someone talking about it when I was dining
with the Bedells. It sounded priceless. I had a sort of idea it was
quite small, and had a prince, but it's really quite big, and it's got
a king over it, and they all wear the old picturesque dress, and the
scenery's