In slow and solemn words he drorled forth his mind and the end of it all was that he condemned the Wife and the Villian both to prison for six months to learn to mend their ways, at which the Husband rubbed hands of glee and the wicked Wife and the terrible Villian trailed out to their sad fate, at which the meeting broke up, and some were heard to say it had not been much fun. But Harold said it was a good show, as the Judge had made four jokes. So they pushed out through the throng to the taxi still waiting and poured quietly back home as Harold was to write some more that day about how to make a splash in socierty for the front page of his newspaper. CHAPTER NINE He departed to his room as soon as they entered and left Selia to herself so she sat on her bed and was bored. Sweet was the sound of the lunch-bell, but she did not speak to Mr. Withersq during the meal as she was cross, and he did not either because he was thinking. Lunch over he called her again to his side. “Alas, alas how fondly I love your charms” he said in his usual softly mode. “Perhaps you do and perhaps you dont” snarled she making herself very stiff as he tried to press her to him. “All the same it would look better if you paid more notice to me instead of to making yourself so grand with writing newspapers, knowing very well you ought to be writing poems, and vexing the King no doubt, as he must have made you Head Poet for something. Unless you find me no more than a drag on you as a humbel girl and wish me to go back to ma.” At this he first brushed cobwebs from his brow in amaze for he had not looked at it from this side, and then laughing much for he was no ill-temperd boor was Withersq, he drew her very loving to his knee and soothed her with strokes, and once more promised all should be well and that the Majpottels had her case in hand and would know when to strike. “Oh dont tell me” she said but nestling a little so as not to be-anger him, “the Majpottels are coming for me at three.” “Coming?” snapped he. “And why may I ask?” “Ah that is a secret” she said archly, feeling now she had got her own back and she coyly rubbed his ears over till they were redder than ever. “Remember. You are mine” he urged rather stern for his was a true love. “I trust you.” “Not half” responded she, and changed the subject. Mr. Withersq now popped her on the floor and got up, feeling for his gloves and hat, as he had got quite used to nice ways now. “Come sweet” he cried, having found them on a green silk sofa under the window. “I have something to show you.” So he led her down the red-carpet stairs towards the hotel door, and the uniform man worked the whirling doors for them very humbly. “Lo” he cried. Oh what a treat for Selia! Drawn up to the footwark what should be there but a motor car painted blue with a blue-coat man to drive it and on the door was painted £sd just as Mr. Withersq had had put on all his underlinen.