"And what were _you_ doing?" Dr. Galbraith asked astutely. "We were in the drawing room," Angelica answered, "trying to find out from a lady why she tied herself up so tight in the middle." "And so you came off here to see?" "Yes," said Diavolo. "We wanted to catch you at it." "You little brute, misbegotten by the--" Dr. Galbraith began, but Diavolo interrupted him. "_Sir!_" he exclaimed, drawing himself up with an expression of as much indignation as could be got into his small patrician features. "If you do not instantly withdraw that calumny, I shall have to fight you on my mother's behalf, and I shall consider it my duty to inform her of the insinuation which is the cause of offence." "I apologize," said Dr. Galbraith, taking off his hat and bowing low. "I assure you the expression was used as a mere _façon de parler_." "I accept your explanation, sir," said Diavolo, returning the salute. "But I caution you to be careful for the future. What is a _façon de parler_, Angelica?" he whispered as he put his hat on. "Oh, just a way of saying it," she answered. "I wish you wouldn't talk so much. Men are always cackling by the hour all about nothing. If people come to see me when _I_ have a house of my own, I shall not forget the rites of hospitality." The doctor put up his pruning knife. There was a twinkle in his gray eyes. "If you will do me the favour to come this way," he said, "my slaves will prepare a small collation on the instant." "Oh, yes," said Diavolo. "Arabian Nights, you know! You must have fresh fruits and dried fruits, choice wines, cakes, sweets, and nuts." "It shall be done as my lord commands," said the doctor. That same evening, when he took the children home, Dr. Galbraith found Lady Adeline alone. She was a plain woman, but well-bred in appearance; and tender thoughts had carved a sweet expression on her face. Next to her brother Dawne, Dawne's most intimate friend, Dr. Galbraith, was the man in the world upon whom she placed the greatest reliance. "I have brought back the children," he said. "Ah. then they _have_ been with you!" she answered in a tone of relief. "We hoped they were." "Oh, yes," he said smiling. "They showed me exactly what the difficulty here had been, and I have been endeavouring to win back their esteem, for they made it appear plainly that they despised me when they found me peacefully pruning rose trees instead of dismembering live rabbits, as Mr. Ellis had apparently led them to expect." "They told you, then?" "Oh, exactly, I am sure--about the lady tied too tight in the middle, and everything." "They are terrible, George, those children," Lady Adeline declared. "My whole life is one ache of anxiety on their account. I am always in doubt as to whether their unnatural acuteness portends vice or is promising; and whether we are doing all that ought to be done for them."