"I'm afraid that's putting it rather high. But you might have been stung, so I'm thankful I was there. At the same time, I can't help feeling that it is to my company that you owe this--this unwarrantable assault. It's me they're after. They want to swarm on me. Or else they've recognized one of their enemies. They said, 'That's a beer, one of the beers. Let us slay him, and the intoxicants...' Exactly. Of course, Berry and Daphne are dead. It's really very tiresome. With Jill and Jonah both away, I don't know what on earth we shall do about tennis tomorrow." "I wish we could have some air," said the girl. I opened the near side window an inch and stood by to close it if necessary. But the bees kept to the other side, where they crawled venomously over the pane. "What ever are we to do?" she said. "Wait awhile," said I. "Excuse me, but you don't happen to have such a thing as a toad on you, have you?" "I hope not." "That's a pity," I said thoughtfully. "Sorry to disappoint you," she said. "Have you lost yours?" "It's all right," said I. "Toads are with us. They simply hate bees. I'm going to get a pack of toads and hunt them. I shall advertise in the Exchange and Mart tomorrow. How's the ankle?" "A little stiff." "Let me rub it, please. It's the only thing." "Oh, no, thanks." "Don't be ungrateful," I said. "What about my ear?" She set a small foot on the opposite seat. I took off the little shoe. At length: "I say," she said suddenly, "what about dinner?" "Dinner!" I exclaimed. "Oh, dinner's gone right out. Simply not done in the best circles. Dinner indeed. My dear, you surprise me!" "Ah, but you see I don't move in the best circles. I'm only very common and vulgar and actually get hungry sometimes. Shocking, isn't it?" "Never mind," I said encouragingly. "You are still young. If you begin to break off this indecent habit--" "It seems I have begun. It's a quarter to nine. You know it is awful. If you had told me yesterday that to-night I should be sitting shut up in a horseless brougham at the back of an inn, alone with a strange man massaging my foot, I should have--" "Of course you would. But there you are, lass, you never know your luck." She looked at me darkly. "Needs must when the devil drives," she said. I looked at her. "My skin may be thick," said I, "but it's not impenetrable. But you knew that." With a light laugh she laid a hand on my arm. "Don't be silly, lad, but put my shoe on again." As I fitted it on, I heard footsteps in the yard outside. Instinctively we both shrank back into the brougham. It was quite dark now. Then a stable door grated and I heard a horse move. "Who is it?" she whispered. "Some ostler, I expect." "What's he going to do?" "I forget for the moment," said I. "I ought to know, too," I added reflectively. "Wait a minute, I will consult the oracle." So saying I made a pass or two and gazed intently into the gloom. "Idiot," she murmured.