"No, no, no!" cried the antiquary, looking as guilty as if he had been caught carrying stolen goods. "Not books. Not what you might call books. Just parcels. Simple necessaries, I assure you." He made a wide curve in order not to come into closer contact with Ruth and Mrs. Poskett, and they went laughing into the latter’s house. But the wide curve brought him up against Marjolaine and Barbara, who had come out of the Gazebo. "More women!" groaned the Doctor; and before either of them had spoken he had added hastily, "Simple necessaries, I do assure you!" Barbara hopped up to him eagerly. She touched all the parcels, which he vainly tried to keep out of her reach. "Doctor," she said, eagerly, "which is the licence?" The Doctor was utterly taken aback. "Eh? Oh, dear! dear! Miss Marjory, you told her!" "Of course," said Marjory. "She’s my dearest friend!" "Tut, tut!—Dear, dear!—What says the Swan of Avon? ’Who was’t betrayed the Capitol?—A woman!’" Jack had opened the window and now leant out and said in a ghastly whisper, "Doctor!—For Heaven’s sake look sharp with the victuals!" "There, there!" cried the flustered Doctor, as he shuffled on into the house, "the cuckoo in the nest!" At the same instant Mr. Basil Pringle came bounding out of the Misses Pennymint’s house, shouting, "Miss Barbara!" Barbara leant half-swooning against Marjolaine. "Oh!—he’s coming!" "Oh, Miss Barbara!" repeated Basil, breathlessly. "Has Doctor Johnson bitten you?" asked Marjolaine, mischievously. "Oh, that gifted bird!" exclaimed Basil, rapturously. "Did he speak?" asked Marjolaine, while Barbara panted expectant. "Speak!—Ah!—" Basil had no words. Doctor Sternroyd’s window was violently thrown open by Jack. It was nearly dark in the Walk, and Jack was reckless. "Marjory!" he called. Marjory was very much startled. Anybody might come out at any moment. "Oh! take care!" she cried, as she ran up to within whispering distance of him. Barbara, with bent head and blushing cheeks was trying to keep Basil to the point. "What did he say, Mr. Basil?" "Come closer!" whispered Jack to Marjolaine, and after assuring herself that no one was looking, she crept inside the little garden. Basil came impulsively towards Barbara. "Shall I tell you? Dare I tell you?" he asked passionately, yet shyly. "You know best," said Barbara, making an invisible pattern on the grass with her dainty foot. Basil took his courage in both hands. "He said—it was all in one breath—He said, ’O-burn-your-lungs-and-liver-you-lubberly-son-of-a- lop-eared-weevil-tell-Barbara-you-love-her!’" "Oh, Mr. Basil!" sighed Barbara, and threw herself headlong into his arms. "But it’s true!—It’s true!" he cried enthusiastically. "Come! let me tell you my own way!" And without more ado, he picked her up and carried her bodily into the Gazebo.