The display of feeling that greeted this solution of the problem was remarkable. The fat barrister was hailed as a legal genius. “Well,” said Archie, screwing his features into a defiant solemnity, “if the Old Man’ll swear by her beard that she conscientiously believes that cucumbers really _can’t_ see, we’ll insert a special clause into the rules to provide for the cucumber frame.” “But I can’t, you know, Archie,” said Miss Grace, “’cause I’ve got no beard. But I do believe that cucumbers can’t see all the same though.” “This is serious,” said the unrelenting Archie. “The Old Man without his beard is worse than Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.” “You’ll have to swear on something, Willy, that’s a cert.,” said Charlie, “else we shan’t believe you.” “Somebody fetch a Bible,” said Carteret. “Now then, Toddles, you idle little beast, why don’t you go and fetch one of your collection.” “Let her kiss my hat,” said the little curate, suddenly sitting upright on the grass, with a look of utter holiness that would have made his vicar glad. “As I’m a parson, it’ll be quite the truest administration of an oath that’s possible. Every parson carries the whole contents of the Scriptures in the lining, all hallowed by his intellect as well. You know it, brethren, don’t you? Besides, it’ll save me the fag of going to the house. Yes, by all means, let her kiss my hat.” At this suggestion, the solemnity that seized us all was really marvellous. We had gravity enough to equip a class for confirmation. “Jimmy, here’s my hat!” said Toddles. “Isn’t it a blessing that you’re a commissioner for oaths--horrid awful ones they are, you fat blasphemer!”--this in an eloquent aside. “Here, Grace, is his hat,” said Carteret. Miss Grace took the Rev. Mr. Elphinstone’s not very particularly ecclesiastical Harlequin cricket cap, and looked at it with some dubiety. “But this is not his hat, James,” said she. “This is his Harlequin.” “All the same,” said Carteret judicially. “Embodies much of his best thought. Look sharp and swear, Grace! It’s a great strain on us all, I can assure you, Doctor, even though you mightn’t think it. These moments of high emotion always are.” Nobody laughed I am prepared to affirm. But before Miss Grace had the oath administered to her, she looked at the witnesses with a keenness that inconvenienced several of them rather considerably. She then proceeded to thoughtfully scratch her chin. “James,” said she, in a perplexed tone, “don’t quite know, you know; not quite sure, you know, but--but I think you’re _having_ me.” “Rather think you’re having us,” said Archie. “Do be quick, Grace! As James says, you don’t know how difficult it is for us. Look at poor Toddles worrying the grass.” “What an emotional little man it is!” said Captain George with rare sympathy. “And what a ghastly thing it must be to have such a high-strung nature.” “I think you men are laughing at me,” said Miss Grace sternly.