Then he thought of Dumps's parents, and he began to understand that it takes all sorts to make a world. He was beginning to realise the importance, in every department of life, of "making allowances." This duty was not confined to one sex, as he had previously imagined. Mrs. Falconer, it was true, spent her life in making allowances for Mr. Falconer. But here was Mr. Mablethorpe doing precisely the same thing for Mrs. Mablethorpe. Finally, he thought of Uncle Joseph and the Beautiful Lady. Perhaps, he reflected, if these two had made allowances for one another earlier in life their coming together would not have been delayed for ten years. Incidentally he made a note that, dragons having become obsolete, a knight might do worse than set out to persuade people to make allowances for one another. CHAPTER XII THE OFFICIAL DEMISE OF TOMMY SMITH NEXT morning Mr. Mablethorpe, after a quite unexpectedly serious conversation with Philip, departed upon Boanerges to seek out Uncle Joseph. Having achieved a comparatively unadventurous journey (if we except a collision with a milk-cart in the Finchley Road), he drew up at Holly Lodge, which looked very much the same as when Philip had left it two days before, save that a large board, newly painted and announcing that "This House" was to be "Let or Sold," projected over the laurel hedge which separated the gravel sweep from the roadway. Uncle Joseph was at home, and received his visitor in the library. The owner of Boanerges came to the point at once. "My name," he said, "is Mablethorpe. I do not suppose that the information will interest you in the least, but it is customary to give it. What is more to the point is the fact that I have found a stray nephew. Have you lost one?" Uncle Joseph admitted that this was so. "He appears to have left home," continued Mr. Mablethorpe, "two days ago, owing to a sudden and rather unexpected change in your domestic routine." "He told you the story, then?" "Yes." "I cannot quite understand," said Uncle Joseph, "why the event to which you refer should have made it necessary for him to leave my house. In fact, I should have thought it would have been an inducement to him to remain. Have a cigar?" Mr. Mablethorpe helped himself, and replied thoughtfully:-- "I gather that the--the event to which we have referred absolved him, in his rather immature judgment, from further allegiance to your person and service." Uncle Joseph eyed his visitor keenly. "Service--eh? Did he explain to you the nature of his services?"