"So you go on in there and loosen up--have a good time--and make her have one; and keep it up this afternoon. I'm so anxious for you to find something to interest and _occupy_ you--" His glance dropped an instant to the papers and law books as though wishing he had something better with which to occupy himself. "Besides," he added carelessly, "Francis won't be here to see what you do--gone off with Scoggins up somewhere in the hills--big dog-fight up there and Francis took four curs, Scoggins two--they won't be back till night--so go ahead!" But I had caught the back of a chair. "Dog-fight?" I said faintly. "Frances up in the hills--and--and with Scoggins?" And she had only left me a half-hour ago! "Why, _certainly_!" he said wearily, almost testily. "What of it? I tell you you've got to get your ideas all readjusted about Francis. What's the matter with the dog-fight?" "So--so surprised," I faltered; "so unexpected, you know!" "Poof!"--and he pushed me out through the doorway--"I never face anything unexpected in that quarter!" But I think he would have, if he had followed me across into the dining-room and had faced, as I did-- Frances! "_So_ glad you didn't go to the dog-fight!" I said presently, beaming across at her delightedly. Her sweet lips glowed at me as her dainty fingers poised the tiny trident before her lips. Jove, how I envied that jolly oyster! Then she smiled witchingly, teasingly. "It wasn't because I didn't have an invitation," she responded archly. _I_ knew! That beast, Scoggins! "Umph;" grunted the frump, seated on the curve between us. "I verily believe Francis would go to anything!" I scowled--couldn't help it, dash it! And Frances saw, and ducked her head, biting her lip and blushing. I could have choked the frump for so embarrassing her! Yet the woman _did_ try to be pleasant to me. "Did you ever find a pearl in an oyster, Mr. Lightnut?" she asked. "By Jove, no!" I said, staring at her for the fool question. For _who_ could ever lose a pearl in a jolly oyster, don't you know? And yet, the next instant: "_I_ have!" said my darling, glancing up at me the oddest way. "Have you, Frances?"--the frump faced her interestedly. "You should examine with a microscope the interstratifications of calcareous matter and animal membrane." My beauty looked down at her plate. "I _am_ examining it," she said gravely, "and microscopically. Probably shall this afternoon." But she _didn't_! No, by Jove, we were together almost all the afternoon, though we never could get away from the frump--dash it, she just took charge of us. And it was the same again in the evening. By Jove, it was disgusting--really, that's the only word to use--the way that woman assumed toward everybody the air of expect-to-be-mistress-here-some-day-and-might-as-well-begin-now! Once she did break away from us for fifteen minutes while she went up to see how Jack was. She came back much relieved.