_Vivie_ (while Frank Gardner looks a little astonished): "Oh--my cousin. I knew you knew him. He has often talked to me about you. I'll tell you about David by and bye, Frank." At this interchange of Christian names Mrs. Rossiter thinks she understands the situation: they are engaged, have been since last night's rescue. But what _extraordinary_ people the dear Professor _does_ pick up! Have _they_ got ductless glands, she wonders? Rossiter who has been fidgeting through this dialogue considers that lunch is ready, so they proceed to the small dining-room, "the breakfast-room." Mrs. Rossiter was always very proud of having a _small_ drawing-room (otherwise, "me boudwor") and a _small_ dining-room. It prepared the way for greater magnificence at big parties and also enabled one to be cosier with a few friends. At luncheon: _Mrs. Rossiter_ to _Frank Gardner_, archly: "I suppose you've come home to be married?" _Frank_: "Oh no! I'm not a bigamist, I've got a wife already and four children, and jolly glad I shall be to get back to 'em. I can't stand much of the English climate, after getting so used to South African sunshine. No. I came on a business trip to England, leaving my old dear out at the farm near Salisbury, with the kids--we've got a nice English governess who helps her to look after 'em. A year or two hence I hope to bring 'em over to see the old country and we may have to put the eldest to school: children run wild so in South Africa. As to Miss Warren, she's an old friend of mine and a very dear one. I hadn't seen her for--for--thirteen years, when the sound of her voice--She's got one of those voices you never forget--the sound of her voice came up out of that beastly crowd of gladiators yesterday, and I found her being hammered by two policemen. I pretty well laid one out, though I hadn't used my fists for a matter of ten years. Then I got knocked over myself, I passed a night in a police cell feeling pretty sick and positively maddened at not being able to ask any questions. Then at last morning came, I had a wash and brush up--the police after all aren't bad chaps, and most of 'em seemed jolly well ashamed of last night's doin's--Then I met Vivie in Court and your husband too. He took me on trust and I'm awfully grateful to him. I've got a dear old mater down in Kent--Margate, don't you know--my dad's still alive, Vivie!--and she'd have been awfully cut up at hearing her son had been spending the night in a police cell and was goin' to be fined for rioting, only fortunately the Home Secretary said we weren't to be punished.... But Professor Rossiter's coming on the scene was a grand thing. Besides being an M.P., I needn't tell _you_, Mrs. Rossiter, he has a world-wide reputation. Oh, we read your books, sir, out in South Africa, _I_ can tell you--Well--er--and here we are--and I'm monopolizing the conversation."