ed to do so, but at the first movement the arm along
the back of the chair slid down and gripped hold of me.

'Not so restless, not so restless, little cousin,' said the Professor,
smiling rosily. 'Did I not tell thee I am happy so? And wilt thou mar
the happiness of a good old man?'

'But you have Charlotte, and you must wish to talk to her----'

'Certainly do I wish it. But talking to Charlotte excludeth not the
encircling of Elizabeth. And have I not two arms?'

'I want to go and show Mrs. Harvey-Browne the view from the cliff,' I
said, appalled at the thought of what Charlotte, when she did begin to
speak, would probably say.

'Tut, tut,' said the Professor, gripping me tighter, 'we are very well
so. The contemplation of virtuous happiness is at least as edifying for
this lady as the contemplation of water from a cliff.'

'Delightful originality,' murmured Mrs. Harvey-Browne.

'Madam, you flatter me,' said the Professor, whose ears were quick.

'Oh no. Professor, indeed, it is not flattery.'

'Madam, I am the more obliged.'

'We have so long wished we could meet you. My son spent the whole of
last summer in Bonn trying to do so----'

'Waste of time, waste of time, madam.'

'--and all in vain. And this year we were both there before coming up
here and did all we could, but also unfortunately in vain. It really
seems as if Providence had expressly led us to this place to-day.'

'Providence, madam, is continually leading people to places, and then
leading them away again. I, for instance, am to be led away again from
this one with great rapidity, for I am on foot and must reach a bed by
nightfall. Here there is nothing to be had.'

'Oh you must come back to Binz with us,' cried Mrs. Harvey-Browne. 'The
steamer leaves in an hour, and I am sure room could be found for you in
our hotel. My son would gladly give you his, if necessary; he would feel
only too proud if you would take it, would you not, Brosy?'

'Madam, I am overwhelmed by your amiability. You will, however,
understand that I cannot leave my wife. Where I go she comes too--is it
not so, little treasure? I am only waiting to hear her plans to arrange
mine accordingly. I have no luggage. I am very movable. My night attire
is on my person, beneath the attire appropriate to the day. In one
pocket of my mantle I carry an extra pair of socks. In another my
handkerchiefs, of which there are two. And my sponge, damp and cool, is
embedded in the crown