"Ah, Doctor, Doctor! you must be one of our people--you must indeed!" said Hyams. "Well, is it a bargain?" "Not yet," said I. "In common decency, and for the sake of appearances, I must stay for a couple of days in the house, in order that I may be able to give a satisfactory report to the Duke. By the way, I hope everything is quite orthodox here--nothing contrary to the tenets of the church?" "O quite," replied Hyams; "it is a beautiful establishment in point of order. The bell rings every day punctually at four o'clock." "For prayers?" "No, sir--for hockey. We find that a little lively exercise gives a cheerful tone to the mind, and promotes those animal spirits which are the peculiar boast of the Agapedome." "I am quite satisfied," said I. "So now, if you please, I shall introduce my pupil." I need not dwell minutely upon the particulars of the interview which took place between Rogers of ours and the superintendent of the Agapedome. Indeed there is little to record. Rogers received the intimation that this was to be his residence for a season with the utmost nonchalance, simply remarking that he thought it would be rather slow; and then, by way of keeping up his character, filled himself a bumper of sherry. Mr Hyams regarded him as a spider might do when some unknown but rather powerful insect comes within the precincts of his net. "Well," said Rogers, "since it seems I am to be quartered here, what sort of fun is to be had? Any racket-court, eh?" "I am sorry to say, my Lord, ours is not built as yet. But at four o'clock we shall have hockey--" "Hang hockey! I have no fancy for getting my shins bruised. Any body in the house except myself?" "If your Lordship would like to visit the ladies--" "Say no more!" cried Rogers impetuously. "I shall manage to kill time now! 'Hallo, you follow with the shoulder-knot! show me the way to the drawing-room;" and Rogers straightway disappeared. "Doctor Hiram Smith!" said Hyams, looking rather discomposed, "this is most extraordinary conduct on the part of your pupil." "Not at all extraordinary, I assure you," I replied; "I told you he was rather eccentric, but at present he is in a peculiarly quiet mood. Wait till you see his animal spirits up!" "Why, he'll be the ruin of the Agapedome!" cried Hyams; "I cannot possibly permit this." "It will rather puzzle you to stop it," said I. Here a faint squall, followed by a sound of suppressed giggling, was heard in the passage without. "Holy Moses!" cried the Agapedomian, starting up, "if Mrs Hyams should happen to be there!" "You may rely upon it she will very soon become accustomed to his Lordship's eccentricities. Why, you told me you admitted of no sort of bother or ceremony." "Yes--but a joke maybe carried too far. As I live, he is pursuing one of the ladies down stairs into the courtyard!" "Is he?" said I; "then you may be tolerably certain he will overtake her."