"Well, I know." Tommy pauses, and an unearthly silence falls on the assembled company. Half the county is present, and as Tommy, in the character of _reconteur_, is widely known and deservedly dreaded, expectation spreads itself among his audience. Lady Baltimore moves uneasily, and for once Dicky Browne feels as if he should like to sink into his boot. "She's up on the top of the hill with Mr. Dysart," says Tommy, and no more. Lady Baltimore sighs with relief, and Mr. Browne feels now as if he should like to give Tommy something. "How do you know?" asks Beauclerk, as though he finds it impossible to repress the question. "Because I saw her there," says Tommy, "when Mabel and me was coming here. I like Mr. Dysart, don't you?" addressing Beauclerk specially. "He is a very kind sort of man. He gave me half a crown." "For what, Tommy?" asks Baltimore, idly, to whom Tommy is an unfailing joy. "To go away and leave him alone with Joyce," says Tommy, with awful distinctness. Tableau! Lady Baltimore lets her spoon fall into her saucer, making a little quick clatter. Everybody tries to think of something to say; nobody succeeds. Mr. Browne, who is evidently choking, is mercifully delivered by beneficent nature from a sudden death. He gives way to a loud and sonorous sneeze. "Oh, Dicky! How funny you do sneeze," says Lady Swansdown. It is a safety valve. Everybody at once affects to agree with her, and universal laughter makes the room ring. "Tommy, I think it is time for you and Mabel to go home," says Lady Baltimore. "I promised your mother to send you back early. Give her my love, and tell her I am so sorry she couldn't come to me to-day, but I suppose last night's fatigue was too much for her." "'Twasn't that," says Tommy; "'twas because cook----" "Yes, yes; of course. I know," says Lady Baltimore, hurriedly, afraid of further revelations. "Now, say good-bye, and, Bertie, you can go as far as the first gate with them." The children make their adieus, Tommy reserving Dicky Browne for a last fond embrace. "Good-bye, old man! So-long!" "What's that?" says Tommy, appealing to Beauclerk for information. "What's what?" says Beauclerk, who isn't in his usual amiable mood. "What's the meaning of that thing Dicky said to me?" "'So-long?' Oh that's Browne's charming way of saying good-bye." "Oh!" says Tommy, thoughtfully. He runs it through his busy brain, and brings it out at the other end satisfactorily translated. "I know," says he: "Go long! That's what he meant! But I think," indignantly, "he needn't be rude, anyway." The children have hardly gone when Joyce and Dysart enter the room. "I hope I'm not dreadfully late," cries Joyce, carelessly, taking off her cap, and giving her head a little light shake, as if to make her pretty soft hair fall into its usual charming order. "I have no idea what the time is." "Broken your watch, Dysart?" says Beauclerk, in a rather nasty tone.