ent so far, in conclusion, as to
say that literary creation was only possible to a hybrid creature
half-male and half-female, of whichever sex.

The general feeling was that this was rude to Mr. G. K. Shaw.

The famous author rose, however, blandly and swung his body round to
Dr. Kenyon.

"Now there'll be some fun," said Geoffrey Alison.

"I consider," said Mr. G. K. Shaw quite gravely, holding his beard
steady, "that the last speaker's mongrel theory of literature is
plausible and valuable. I am, however, puzzled as to how he accounts
for his own admirable pamphlets?"

Which certainly was fun and everybody laughed, to the annoyance of old
Dr. Kenyon, who was thenceforth nicknamed "Mongrel" and shortly after
moved to Wimbledon.

But beyond all this, Helena found a vague excitement in the evening.
It was not like those other causeries at six o'clock; she wished they
always could take place at eight. The mere fact, too, of having come
so on the moment's spur lent quite a new attraction. As Geoffrey
Alison had hinted, picnics are more romantic than a dinner-party and
this had bulked into almost an adventure.

He saw her home. The speeches had been long and it was half-past ten
already, but all was darkness in the little house.

Helena had quite a feeling of nervousness at the idea of switching on
light after light, alone. "Come along in," she said simply.
"Hubert'll be here in half a moment. Then he'll give you a drink, and
we will all exchange experiences!" All rancour had gone; yet--well,
she would rather like to show Hugh that his absence didn't mean she
merely sat and cried! Women _are_ human--and women.

"No, I don't think I will, thanks very much," he said.

His face and tone puzzled her. "Don't say _you_'re busy, now!" she
cried. "It's a regular disease."

"Oh no, I never work at night," he answered. "Artists can't very well.
That is the one advantage of our job!"

"Well don't be tiresome then, and come on in," she said, holding the
door open. "Hugh will be furious if he knows you're just gone. So
don't be stupid. _I_ was tame, just now!"

"If you really mean it," he replied almost solemnly and entered.

"Of course I do," she laughed. "Should I invite you, otherwise? How
curious you are! Come into the dining-room and then when Hugh comes,
he can give you--Oh no, let's come into here!" She hastily pointed to
the drawing-room.

Geoffrey Alison went in, puzzled, thinking.

He did