Presently tea was brought out, and with it came Barbara, a quiet laugh about her lips, and Liosha, stately and smiling. My wife to put her at her ease (though she had displayed singularly little shyness), after dealing with maid and taxi, had taken her over the house, exhibited Susan at tea in the nursery, and as much of Doria's trousseau as was visible in the sewing-room. The approaching marriage aroused her keen interest. She said very little during the meal, but smiled embarrassingly on the engaged pair. Jaffery stood glumly devouring cucumber sandwiches, till Barbara took him aside. "She's rather a dear, in spite of everything, and I think you're treating her abominably." Jaffery grew scarlet beneath the brick-coloured glaze. "I wouldn't treat any woman abominably, if I could help it." "Well, you can help it--" and taking pity on him, she laughed in his face. "Can't you take her as a joke?" He glanced quietly at the lady. "Rather a heavy one," he said. "Anyhow come and talk to us and be civil to her. Imagine she's the Vicar's wife come to call." Jaffery's elementary sense of humour was tickled and he broke out into a loud guffaw that sent the house cat, a delicate mendicant for food, scuttling across the lawn. The sight of the terror-stricken animal aroused the rest of the party to harmless mirth. "Tell me, Mrs. Prescott," said Adrian, "was he allowed to do that in Albania?" "I guess there aren't many things Jaff Chayne can't do in Albania," replied Liosha. "He has the _bessas_ that carry him through and he's as brave as a lion." "I suppose you like brave men?" said Doria. "A woman who married a coward would be a damn fool--especially in Albania. I guess there aren't many in my mountains." "I wish you would tell us about your mountains," said Barbara pleasantly. "And at the same time," said I, "Jaff might let us hear his story. That is to say if you have no objection, Mrs. Prescott." "With us," said Liosha, "the guest is expected to talk about himself; for if he's a guest he's one of the family." "Shall I go ahead then?" asked Jaffery, "and you chip in whenever you feel like it?" "That would be best," replied Liosha. And having lit a cigarette and settled herself in her deck-chair, she motioned to Jaffery to proceed. And there in the shade of the old wistaria arbour, surrounded by such dainty products of civilisation as Adrian (in speckless white flannels and violet socks) and the tea-table (in silver and egg-shell china) this pair of barbarians told their tale. CHAPTER V