"Think!" cried Jack; and every lover’s vow was in the one word. "Slip to your boat, quickly!" cried Marjolaine, peeping round the corner of the Gazebo. But before he could move she gave a startled cry and motioned him back. For the Muffin-man had entered the Walk ringing his bell. "Dash it! What’s that?" cried Jack. "Keep still! It’s the Muffin-man!" "I’m off!" "Wait!" Now she was peeping through an opening in the box-wood hedge. "Jack! The whole Walk’s awake! Look!" Jack’s head was very close to hers. "I can’t see; your hair’s in the way. Don’t move!" For a moment they stood watching. And indeed the Walk was awake. The Muffin-man’s bell had acted like magic. The Admiral and Jim were already bargaining with him. Mrs. Poskett was on her doorstep with a plate in her hand. So was Ruth Pennymint. Barbara was in the garden, and Basil was telling her just how many muffins he wanted from the upstairs window; Jane, Mr. Brooke-Hoskyn’s maid, was waiting impatiently; and Dr. Sternroyd had come out of his house book in hand, and was making frantic signals so as not to be overlooked. And they were all talking, and gesticulating, and calling. "By Jove!" cried Jack excitedly, "there’s old Antrobus!" "All of them! All of them!" wailed Marjolaine. "They ’re all buying muffins—greedy pigs!—They won’t see me." He made as if to dash out. Marjolaine held him back. "Yes, they will. Let me go first. I’ll get them talking, and then you can slip away." But she started back with a suppressed scream. "What now?" cried Jack. "Maman and Nanette!" Yes. As ill-luck would have it Madame Lachesnais and her old servant turned the corner at this moment, and with a friendly word to each of her neighbours Madame was coming slowly towards the Gazebo. "They must not come here!" cried Marjolaine in distress. "I cannot explain you before the whole Walk!—Is my hair straight?" "Lovely!—Monday?" "Oh, I don’t know. I’m frightened." "Monday?" insisted Jack. "Yes! Yes!" But meanwhile Mr. Brooke-Hoskyn had come out of his house, and taking advantage of the hubbub in the Walk had crossed—shall I say like a sleuth-hound?—more like a sleuth-cat, if there be such an animal—to the Gazebo. So that when Marjolaine came forward to intercept her mother, she ran straight into his arms. "All right, Miss Marjory," he whispered, with something very like a wink, "I’ll fetch the things for you." "No, no!" cried Marjolaine, in agony. Her mother caught sight of her and called her. For a moment Marjolaine stood irresolute. Then, with an almost hysterical laugh, she ran to her mother. "Me voilà, Maman chèrie!" Jack was peering through the hole in the hedge, looking for a chance of escape. Mr. Brooke-Hoskyn put his head slily round the corner of the Gazebo—and, sure enough, just as he had suspected—there was a young man!