He's a performing gorilla," cried Jaffery.

They were both exceedingly angry, and having walked very fast, they
found themselves in front of the gate of the walled garden.
Instinctively they entered and had the place to themselves.

"And a confounded bounder of a gorilla at that!" Jaffery continued.

"How dare you speak so of my friend?"

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself for having such a friend. And
you're just going to drop him. Do you understand?"

"Shan't!" said Liosha.

"You shall. You're not going to be seen outside the house with him."

There was battle clamorous and a trifle undignified. They said the same
things over and over again. Both had worked themselves into a fury.

"I forbid you to have anything to do with the fellow."

"You, Jaff Chayne, told me to mind my own business. Just you mind
yours."

"It is my business," he shouted, "to see that you don't disgrace
yourself with a beast of a fellow like that."

"What did you say? Disgrace myself?" She drew herself up magnificently.
"Do you think I would disgrace myself with any man living? You insult
me."

"Rot!" cried Jaffery. "Every woman's liable to make a blessed fool of
herself--and you more than most."

"I know one that's not going to make a fool of herself," she taunted,
and flung an arm in the direction of the house.

Jaffery blazed. "You leave me alone."

"And you leave me alone."

They glared inimically into each other's eyes. Liosha turned, marched
superbly away, opened the garden door and, passing through, slammed it
in his face. It had been a very pretty, primitive quarrel, free from all
subtlety. Elemental instinct flamed in Jaffery's veins. If he could have
given her a good sound thrashing he would have been a happy man. This
accursed civilisation paralysed him. He stood for a few moments tearing
at whiskers and beard. Then he started in pursuit, and overtook her in
the middle of the lawn.

"Anyhow, you'll take the infernal fellow away now and never bring him
here again."

"It's Hilary's house, not yours," she remarked, looking straight before
her.

"Well, ask him."

"I will. Hilary!"

At her hail and beckon I left the terrace where Mr. Fendihook had been
discoursing irrepressibly on the Bohemian advantages of widowhood to a
quivering Doria, and advanced to meet her, a flushed and bright-eyed
Juno.

"Would you like me to bring Ras Fendihook here again?"

"Tell her straight," said Jaffery.

Even Susan, looking