ns,
and her thus silently arraying herself on Jimmie's side as a wordless
rebuke to my impertinence was so delicious that Jimmie gave me a solemn
wink, as he said:

"Now she has only voiced the opinion of the world. Let us face the
question once for all. Why did you marry me?"

Mrs. Jimmie coloured all over her creamy pale face. She looked in
distress from me to Jimmie, divided between her desire to express in
one burst of eloquence the fulness of her reasons for marrying the man
she adored, and her reluctance to display emotion before me. She took
everything with such edifying gravity. It never dawned on her that he
was teasing her.

"Don't torment her so!" I said. "Mrs. Jimmie, I admire your taste, but
I admire Jimmie's more."

"Thank you, dear," she said, seriously, but still with that soft blush
on her cheeks. Then she added, quietly, "Jimmie never torments me."

"_Mon Dieu_," I said, under my breath, with a fierce glance at Jimmie.
But he only shook his head, as one would who had not "fetched it" that
time, but who meant to keep on trying.

Another knock. Mary again, with the mail. She was swallowing
violently, and her eyes were full of tears. I took up the letters and
tore them open.

Sixteen requests for autographs, only one enclosing a stamp. Twelve
letters from young girls, telling Aubrey their stellar capabilities.
Four requests for photographs. Some personal letters, and this choice
effusion, which I copy _verbatim et spellatim_.

"DEAR SIR: Please tell me how you Study human natur do you travle
extensively through close Social relations or do you Study phenology.
You illustrate it So accrately that I would be pleased to know your
method and if you don't think I am too cheeky, would be pleased to know
your income. I remain yours with respect."

I gave a little shriek of delight, and rushed back to the Jimmies with
renewed enthusiasm. This unknown man had inspired me afresh.

_Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie at Canterbury_.

But although Jimmie growls, there is no one in the world who is so
excellent a travelling companion as he, for he is always ready for
everything. You cannot suggest any jaunt too wild or too impossible
for Jimmie not to bend his energies toward making it possible. The
chief reason that Mrs. Jimmie likes me so much is because I admire
Jimmie, and the reason that Jimmie likes me is because I adore Mrs.
Jimmie.

So I was not at all surprised to find ourselves at Ca