"It’s perfectly monstrous!" Jack was explaining angrily to Marjolaine, who was now under his window. "The old fossil’s brought two eggs, a red herring, and a pot of currant jelly!" "Poor Jack!" exclaimed Marjolaine sympathetically, yet with a note of laughter in her voice. "Is that rations for a grown man?" asked Jack pathetically. "Says he’ll make an omelette! Two eggs! An omelette! Ho!" Here the Eyesore crept cautiously back to his post. He had not dared come in broad daylight, but now that it was nearly dark he hoped he would be unobserved. From the Gazebo came the voices of the other lovers in long-drawn notes. "My own!" said Basil, in a stupendous bass. "My Basil!" echoed Barbara. Rapture. Oblivion. An endless embrace. "Can’t you send that object for food?" said Jack, pointing to the Eyesore. "I daren’t speak to him," answered Marjolaine, with a little shiver of dislike. "He always turns out to be somebody else. Jack! if you ’ll be good, I ’ll get it myself!" "Angel! But make haste! I’m starving!" "If you hear me singing, look out of the window," whispered Marjolaine, kissing her hand to him. And with that she ran lightly into her own house, and Jack retired to wait with what patience he could muster. "And now, what is the next thing to do?" asked Basil, rising and leading Barbara towards the house. "We must tell Ruth," said Barbara, with a sound practical idea of clinching the matter. There should be no mistake this time. "Yes! at once!" cried Basil, nobly. "Oh!" he exclaimed, with a burst of grateful sentiment, "I ’ll buy Doctor Johnson a golden chain!" Barbara’s pretty head was reposing affectionately on his shoulder. "And I ’ll wear it for him. The dear bird." "The dear, dear bird!" they repeated in melodious unison. Not otherwise did Romeo and Juliet breathe soft nothings in the gardens of Verona. Not otherwise did Paolo and Francesca talk exquisite nonsense when they had very injudiciously left off reading. Not otherwise—but why pursue the subject? You and I have been just as happy, and just as foolish. Ruth brought Mrs. Poskett, resplendent in a new cap and various other seductive devices, out of the house. Barbara fluttered to her sister. "Dear Ruth! Come in quickly! Basil and I have such news for you!" Ruth saw it at a glance. At last they had shed one form of idiocy to take on another. Now, perhaps, she would enjoy a little peace. "Very well," she said. Then she made a low curtsey to Mrs. Poskett, and said, meaningly, "Courage—Lady Antrobus!"