MISS T. You don't mean to say you're wearied of Mr. Van Boodeler _already_! Well, Mr. Culchard will be along soon, and I'll loan him to you. I'll tell him you're vurry anxious to converse with him some more. He's just coming along now, with Mr. Podbury and Poppa. MISS P. (_under her breath_). Maud! if you _dare_----! MISS T. Don't you _dare_ me, then--or you'll see. But I don't want to be mean unless I'm obliged to. [MR. TROTTER, _followed by_ CULCHARD _and_ PODBURY, _arrives at the upper platform_. CULCHARD _and_ PODBURY _efface themselves as much as possible_. MR. TROTTER _greets_ MISS PRENDERGAST _heartily_. MR. T. Well now, I call this sociable, meeting all together again like this. I don't see why in the land we didn't _keep_ together. I've been saying so to my darter here, ever since Bellagio--ain't that so, Maud? And _she_ didn't know just how it came about either. MISS P. (_hurriedly_). We--we had to be getting on. And I am afraid we must say good-bye now, Mr. Trotter. I want Bob and Mr. Podbury to see the Da Vinci fresco, you know, before the light goes. (BOB _mutters a highly disrespectful wish concerning that work of Art_.) We _may_ see you again, before we leave for Verona. MR. T. Verona? Well, I don't care if I see Verona myself. Seems a pity to separate now we _have_ met, _don't_ it? See here, now, we'll _all_ go along to Verona together--how's that, Maud? Start whenever _you_ feel like it, Miss Prendergast. How does that proposal strike you? I'll be real hurt if you cann't take to my idea. MISS T. The fact is, Poppa, Hypatia isn't just sure that Mr. Prendergast wouldn't object. BOB P. I--object? Not _much_! Just what I should _like_, seeing Verona with--all _together_, you know! MISS T. Then I guess _that's_ fixed. (_Aside, to_ MISS P., _who is speechless_.) Come, you haven't the heart to go and disappoint my poor Cousin Charley by saying you won't go! I expect he'll be perfectly enchanted to be under vow--unless you've filled up _all_ the vacancies already! (_Aloud, to_ VAN B., _as he approaches_.) We've persuaded Miss Prendergast to join our party. I hope you feel equal to entertaining her? VAN B. I shall be proud to be permitted to try. (_To_ MISS P.) Then I may take it that you agree with me that the function of the future American fictionist will be---- [_They move away conversing._ PODB. (_to_ CULCH.). I say, old fellow, we're to be travelling companions again, after all. And a jolly good thing, too, _I_ think!... eh? CULCH. Oh, h'm--quite so. That is--but no doubt it will be an advantage--(_with a glance at_ VAN B., _who is absorbed in_ MISS P.'S _conversation_)--in--er--_some_ respects. (_To himself_) Hardly from poor dear Podbury's point of view, I'm afraid though! However, if _he_ sees nothing----! [_He shrugs his shoulders, pityingly._ CHAPTER XIX. +Crumpled Roseleaves.+