of affairs,
patted her on the head, saying: "Dear, dear!" much as he would have done
to obstreperous babies suspicious of baptism. But the fair Violet wept
on.

"What is it?" said the Bishop. "What have I done?"

"You haven't done anything," she replied between her sobs, "but I--I'm
so dreadfully hungry."

"Dear me!" exclaimed his Lordship, "I forgot all about dinner."

It was quite true that, in his anxiety to catch trains and make a series
of bewildering connections, the question of food had entirely escaped
his memory, and, now he came to think of it, he was ravenously hungry
himself.

"I'm so sorry," he said helplessly. "We must see what we can find."

It was years since he had dared to investigate his own pantries; but
under the spur of Miss Arminster's necessities he achieved prodigies of
valour, even breaking into that holy of holies, his sister's jam-closet.
The little actress aided and abetted him, creating havoc among jars of
sardines, olives, and caviare. And then, while they were in the midst of
their midnight orgy, a figure appeared before them--a figure clad in an
indescribable dressing-gown and carrying a bedroom candle.

"Josephus," said the apparition, "is that you?"

"Yes, my dear," replied the Bishop, with his mouth full of jam tart, "it
is."

"I wonder you've the face to enter the house!" said his sister.

"His own house! That's good," commented Miss Arminster from the midst of
sardines.

"I admit that the circumstances are unusual," remarked the Bishop,
cutting himself another large slice of the pastry, "but the train
service is most irregular, and, as you can see, it was necessary to
bring the Leopard home to-night, and so--"

"Josephus!" broke in his sister, "there are no leopards in this country,
and I _can_ see that to the other sins you have undoubtedly committed
you have added the vice of--"

But she got no further, for the Bishop, casting a glance at each of the
two women, decided that now or never was salvation at hand, and said
brusquely:

"Matilda, go to bed at once!"

It was the first time he had ever spoken to her in tones of authority,
and his sister, not believing her ears, returned to the charge.

"And as for that shameless minx--" she continued; but his Lordship again
interrupted, remarking severely:

"Matilda, go to bed instantly!"

But the spinster was not yet defeated.

"Josephus!" she began, in her most approved style.

"Go to bed!" repeated the Bishop