oing this morni

ntelpiece and selected

irst, if not foremost, I must hire some sock-suspenders. Secondly, I must select som

help me choose a present for Maisie Dukedom. Besides, I

et the chops at the same time. We'd better tak

, "let's all join together

," said my sister. "An

an, I shouldn't like her to have to get a new one in

aphne co

ness'?" said Jill, loo

he words I avoid. If you must, I should write

ne bell beg

r," said Jonah. "They alw

d picked up the receiver.

to you, and I should think you'll get it to-morrow morning. No, I'm not mad. No, I'm not the cab-rank, either. Well, you should have asked me. Never mind. Let's talk of something else. I wonder if you're interested in rock-worms.... I

rtainly, "don't forget we've got to ring

's see." She fell to examining a tiny engagement-book, murmu

to survey

e there was a good fire, warming ourselves preparatory to venturing abr

n the dances, a great deal of the accommodation usually reserved for such revellers as desired rest or refreshment was being converted into seats to be sold to any who cared to witness a pageant of unwonted brilliancy. The fact that no one of us had attended a function of this sort for

len

ets," I said reflectively. "If we do

hne; "and we've got nothing on o

eared hi

me buttons in front, and has not less than two pockets which are at once accessible and of a reasonable capacity. I dare say they weren't fashionable in the fourteenth century. No doubt our forefathers thought i

ah. "I always feel such

the fool you look," said

Sportsman and su

nest toil. I should take up scavenging, o

use you're coning with Jill and me to choose the rug." She tur

odd

his morning. The number I asked for, which was faithfully repeated by the operator, was Mayfair 976. I was c

d Police Statio

r Kennington

d. There ain't

? I always thought.... Neve

oad Police Station," replie

f you remember, I asked you if it was Ken

are

easantness I repl

ation with "Supervisor," I arranged to purcha

ading a rug upon the top of a f

erry, "you haven't

ame across

in Germany and sent to Egypt. By the tune the camels had finished

ty, and it was only with an effort

she said shakily. "Don't you

. "Some of it appears to have been

nvariably a littl

straying casually from the course which its fellows had taken. "That, for instance, is where Ethel the Unready demanded a latchkey at the mature age of sixty-two. And here we see Uncle Sennacherib fine

and get some socks?"

h, or shall I meet you? I believe

to an office, and my sister besought

said in a choking voice. "

d. "It's a priceless game. Every one g

and shook silently. Observing that we were unattended, another salesman wa

lanterns," said Berry. "You know. T

ill, and the unfortunate assistant lo

ething had

slid my arm through

il the hosier. If you're not qu

-law eyed me

Never. This is a ruse. Where is the manager of the emporiu

my watch bef

to the Club, Martini

an that?"

d

ll but pun

odd

the bewilde

an expensive-looking rug. Preferably a Shiraz. No

rchased one of the prettiest bead bags I have

ds away. By the time I had alighted, that distance was substantially increased. In some dudgeon I proceeded to walk, with such remnants of dignity as I could collect and retain, in tie direction of my lost property. Wisdom suggested that I should run; but I felt that the spectacle of a young man, hatless but otherwise dec

pletive a bell rang sharply, and I turned to s

I cried, flingi

me to indicate the large limousine an

and buy a new hat. By the time we had been twice round the Ring I had no longer any doubt on this point; but

t, but, as I stepped into the road, the waiting stream was released, and the car slid away and round the hull of a 'bus from under my very hand. My escape from a disf

the Ritz. I had just pronounced In favour of the latter, when there fell upon my ears the long regular spasm of ringing which is a fire-engine's peremptory demand for instant w

ce at me over his shoulder, my driver pulled in to the kerb, and we had the felicity of

its state of suspended animation, and in some annoyance I put my he

his hand. The hat resembled the one I had Lost, and for a moment I hesitated. Then it occurred to me that there

by the kerb, was the

nt I was back

nk that's my

feur look

'Fetch it down.' I fetches it down and shows it 'er. 'An' a nice noo 'at, too,' she says, 'wot must have blowed orf of a gent's 'ead, an' 'e on top of a 'bus, as like as not.' Then she loo

him read the initials which had just been

k, sir. Shall I tell them to send it

king it out of his hand. "Why

st 'ave shifted on to the brim as soon a

tly, giving him a two-shilling piec

his cap a

he draught which I had encountered nearly an hour

I was already half an hour late-I should have gone to the Berkeley and scrutinized the guests. The reflection that such a proceeding must only have been unprofitable consoled me not at all, so contrary a maid is Speculation. For the next two hours Vexation rode me on the curb. I q

owed by a sharp walk in the Park, did much to reduce the ridiculous fever of which my folly lay s

so I ordered tea to be brought to the library, and set

sting my second sentence

e showed me that the hall and the staircase were In darkn

y seat. Then I reached for the tele

ng!" said a voice. "And yo

lish tone that would have attracted any one. "There it was, on the top o

id I. "It was a

e followed my inter

re you th

n an excited whisper. "

the first voice I had heard. "Somebody

the sentence with the clean

id I. "Now we shall never

whoever you are. If

was ushered into your presence, so to speak,

s talking, you ought to

ing my headgear. I repeat, it was a hat of unu

your hat we w

igh

own way. Some other fool followed a silver-grey Hombur

gasp inte

d you know

uld. Negatives all the way. It's just chance, my dear. C

receded by a re

y. "D'you mean to say you

t hadn't been for

kins turned down

act

you go to your hatter'

neatly put? You see, I'm writing a letter to The Observer, and, w

'm interrupting you, and I shoul

I shall call you Mockery. And if y

od-

sted ea

ve only just met. Besides .

ham w

Why was Cla

why w

thought you might know. I

hich suggested indignation s

ng off right away," sai

led me this morning. More. Think of the dance

re going,

you

?" she d

n the time of Henry

t. I'm going as myse

er-I mean billiard-marker-and go as Carry One. Then we can dance together all t

"is that which hath pos

produced indefinitely, will never tire. All the same, in view of t

rallel line. And that's why I can tell you that I

ot. And why p

er meet.

s a fain

had ru

hung up my

was still sitting in the da

ight. Tuesday was fair, still by comparison and indeed. The sun shone and the sky was blue, and the smoke rose straight out of its chimneys with never the br

r, ways that were handsome became superb. Grime went unnoticed, ugliness fell away. All things crude or staring became indistinc

ood, fantastic shapes loomed out of the mist and topless towers rose up spectral to baffle memory. Perspective fled, shadow and stuff were one, and, save where the radiance of the shops in some proud thoroughfare made

on put on her cloak of darkness. By eight

through the yellow drift, and the cold was intense. The prospect of leaving a comfortable home at nine in the evening to undertake a journey of so

itement, and had promised readily to reserve more dances than could possibly be rendered, were equally firm. Jonah thought it a fool'

y other fools in the building to exchange colds with, you'll be lucky. To leave your home on a night like this is fairly clamouring for the special brand of trouble they keep for paralyti

ne. "Besides, you can't s

s the cold reply. "A singular species. Co

outing. "Boy can walk in front with a lamp

I suppose, with a brazier in ei

but try,

lk about London half the night, looking like a demobilised pantalo

ppropriate reply, and the

ny sense, we should send for Fitch and desire his opinion. It's rather more valuable tha

h was our

l, I went to the telepho

iting to be co

e Club?" sa

I. "Nothi

bag of mine in

re isn't

an?" was the i

. Our hall

ity, "I say there is a bag in the hall. A

. "What you put nuts in.

nknown subscriber replaced his

ater Fitch en

Albert Hall to-night

, madam. If

he Albert Hall to-morrow

there, sir, I

g will i

ght going. It's getting along the streets as'll take the time. It's not that I won't find

optimist, a

think s

id Daphne hastily. "Ha

good,

d and w

y sister regar

of a molehill," she said

stare. Then he put a thumb to his nose a

nt occurred in the vic

ostumes put the wearing of overcoats out of the question. A high-collared Italian cloak of the shape that was seen in the time of Elizabeth made it impossible for me to wear a surtout of any description, and I was reduced to wrapping a muffler about my neck and holding a woollen

; but here, almost before we knew it, there were vehicles in front and on either side. Hoarse directions were being shouted, lanterns were being waved, engines were running, and

bout it

her awkward to slip across, in case I meet somethin'

t one of us must

e safer

n position. Only my brother-in-law remained. He did not go down without a struggle, but after a vigorous but vain appeal "to our better natures," he compared himself to a lion beset by jackals, commented bitterly upon "the hot air which is breath

returned to the window to ask us to make less noise. At last, however, with the assistance of Fitch, the l

t in the

ordinary power came gliding up on the near side, confus

Instantly the lamp stopped, but its glare was blin

ver the face of the offender. At once Fitch took the c

e to the Foundling Hospital. Hullo. That's done it. Blind me first and then run me down. What are you? A travelling lighthouse or an air-raid? Want to get to Cannon Street? Well, I should go round by se

rew fainter

draught, and we swept into the Park.

Berry!"

ld hear voices, but n

drew a rug over my shivering limbs. The others put their heads out

er lamp and returned to the gate. He did not reappear for ten minutes, an

y. "We'd better get on.

right," said Daphne,

own sake. And when I last heard him, he was having the time of his life. Incidenta

d Jill. "There must be

my sister. "Tell F

helmsman set us down at the m

full, the floor was packed, the corridors were thronged with eager shining revellers, dancing and strolling and chattering to beat the band, which was flooding every corner of

the pageant about the function, neither were Pomp and Chivalry among the guests. But Grace was there, and E

ring to the region of things impossible, and determined to think about it no more. For all that, I occasionally found myself scanning the cr

d Maisie Dukedom, all rad

" said I, "and

at a tiny

ht to be going. But I want to thank you for that beautiful rug. If I

ou mu

we pushed off

ho is it?"

re going to thank

ttle grimace

to tell you the truth. Jack and I

here we g

nched

ve any other rug there, and, when they said it was sold, I nearly cried. We were so fed up that we said we wouldn't get a rug at all, and w

rwhe

w, who's

but not her countenance. Her name is Dot-Lady Dot. S

sumed a s

depend upon finding her? I mean ... it's wors

init

d the voice, because you won't hear it. And her name, because

ly I a

o have helped." The music slowed up a

way toward

erge from a car which had just arrived. Berry. Having succeeded in projecting himself on to the steps, he turned to hand his companion out of the car

d forward as if to receive instructions when to return. The light of the near-side lamp showed me

t the throat by the white of an ermine stole. Dark hair swept low over her forehead, an att

up to see

of grey eyes met m

"Hullo, Berry." Suddenly she saw his companion.

ranging her wrap, I

oduce

o without

," she added. "I've just cut one of

hirty minutes which I have just spent in Lady Elizabeth'

my lady, turning to me with a sm

luntary cry was succeeded by a peal of laughter which attracted the attention of every one within earshot, and in a moment my b

stily I escorted Maisie, still he

s in the vestibule with a fantastic account of his experiences at Stanhope

discerning, conjured me to pull in to the kerb. Removing from my north instep the hoof which, upon examination, I found to be attached to a large mammal, I started to wade south-west and by south, hoping against

d I led her into the corr

avy fringe, that swayed evenly with her every movement, made the sum line of her dress still mo

tfully begged her compassion. Then I spoke of the bitter wind which had blown us abou

one day," I a

s if I had stabbed her, but I t

s and my pursuit, only omitting

dy of the limousine is here to-night. Before

ver seen her,"

w her

ghed mu

it of an optimi

k so. And she

know her name, h

," I said

my shoulder

ance

len

much to go on,"

igh

I find her, d'you think she'll give m

, so that I drew her out of the press and into a vacant corne

" said I. "Why wa

me speechless. Then she beg

ately another orchestra took up the running, and th

ed at

rned my da

sitate

Carry One