'You began with them this afternoon,' said Dane gravely. 'The case does possess interest, for it regards the sensations of some fifteen hundred people, or more. I want you to take charge of it;—on a salary to be fixed as hereafter agreed upon. What do you say?' 'Thank you—I should like it very much,—if it were only for the pleasure of working with you. And they want better care than they get.' 'Thank you,' said Rollo in his turn. 'I thought you would, and yet it is a load off my mind.' 'Why it will be delightful,' cried Prim. 'Nothing could be nicer.' 'The next thing is, Arthur, where will you live?' 'Why at home, can't he?' 'No. I will build a house for you, Arthur, if you can put a housekeeper in it.' 'Don't let such a trifle stand in your way,' said Dr. Arthur. 'There'll be one in it when I am there. And when I am not, it's no matter.' Dane uttered a low whistle, and looked at the other members of the little circle. 'Shews how much he knows about housekeeping!' 'For a particular man, which he is,' said Prim. 'You wouldn't believe it,' said Dane, his eye coming round to Wych Hazel, 'but I shall have to make the tea carefully to-night, because that fellow is here.' 'All which proves that I know how to make it for myself,' said Dr. Arthur composedly. 'But it is mere fudge, Dane, about building a house for me. Get your hands roofed in, and then don't do one other thing at present. I'll live somewhere.' 'Lodge under a hedge, and dine in the top of a beech tree. Where would be a good place?—I do not mean, for the beech tree. Somewhere near the spot where the road to the Hollow leaves the Crocus road—that's about three miles. That would be in the way— of everything." 'But Duke,' said Primrose, 'are you in earnest? Couldn't he be at home?' 'Seven miles off, Prim? He was only just in time this afternoon. Arthur, I wish you would draw out a plan of a house that you would like.' 'But who _could_ keep house for him? Prudentia?' 'No,' said Dr. Arthur, 'I cannot manage any prudence but my own. But Dane, I am in earnest. I want you to let your reserve force rest. You may reach corners where you will need it all.' 'What are "corners" in mill-work?' said the silent little figure in the depths of the cushioned chair. Dr. Arthur turned to her instantly, listening with almost critical attention while she spoke; but then he drew back and waited for Rollo to give the answer. 'A corner,' said Dane with critical gravity, 'is a place where your path is crossed by another. Which indeed usually makes two corners; perhaps four.' 'What do you do then?' 'Turn. That is, if I cannot go straight on.' 'Therefore you see that with a train of fifteen hundred men, a corner is an awkward place,' said Dr. Arthur.