!" he shouted. "Such news! 'The Purple Kangaroo'
has reached its twentieth edition, and a truce is declared between the
United States and Spain! Where are the others? I must tell them that the
war is over."

"Bother your war!" exclaimed his aunt. "Do you know that your father and
that shameless minx, Miss Arminster, have just eloped?"

CHAPTER IV.

IN WHICH THE BISHOP IS ABDUCTED.

All the way from Blanford to Dullhampton the Bishop was in the best of
spirits, much on the principle of a naughty boy who, having played
truant, means to enjoy his holiday to the full, well knowing that he
will be caned when it is over. Indeed his Lordship became positively
skittish, and Miss Arminster was obliged to squelch him a little, as
that young lady, for excellent reasons of her own, had no more intention
of becoming the mistress of Blanford than she had of wedding the author
of "The Purple Kangaroo." On the other hand, she realised that it was
one of the old gentleman's very rare treats, and she wanted him to have
as good a time as possible; besides which, she had always longed to take
a cruise on a steam-yacht, and now her ambition was about to be
gratified.

The shock of disappointment was therefore all the greater when, on their
arrival at Dullhampton, they were met by the captain, who informed them
that Lord Downton had had a bad fall the day before and seriously
sprained his ankle, so that the party had been given up. He had sent the
yacht on, however, with the request that the Bishop would consider it at
his disposal for the remainder of the week.

"Now that's exceedingly awkward," said his Lordship. "I fear we can
hardly go yachting without a chaperon."

"Most certainly not," agreed Miss Arminster. "But let's take a little
sail this afternoon, and return to Blanford in time for dinner."

"That's very well thought of," said the Bishop, "and to-morrow we can
bring down some more of our party. It seems a pity we shouldn't use the
yacht, now we're here. Does that arrangement meet with your approval,
captain?"

"Well, your Lordship," replied the captain, "to be honest with you, I
hadn't expected as how you'd be able to get away to-day, so I'd
arranged to see my sister, who lives here, this afternoon, and the first
mate's gone up to town to order some stores. But if you are only to be
out for a few hours, as you say, my second mate's quite capable of
taking the boat for you. I wouldn't like to trust him on a long