s ham and tongue and--Mr. Geoffrey,
how extravagant of you!" And she shook her shapely head at him
reprovingly but with a smile curving her red lips; and lo! there was the
shining curl above her eyebrow again, more wantonly alluring than usual.
"Whatever made you buy so much?"

"Mr. Pffeffenfifer!" answered Ravenslee, staring at the radiant curl,
whereupon she, becoming aware of it, would have sent it into immediate
retirement among its many fellows but that he stayed her humbly.

"Please don't!" he said.

"But it--tickles!"

"Well, let it!"

"But--why should I?"

"For--Arthur's sake."

"Arthur's!" she laughed. "Oh, Mr. Geoffrey, as if he would ever notice!"

"Well, then, for the--er--turkey's sake!"

"The turkey!" she laughed. "I'm afraid I'm dreadfully untidy to sit down
at such a luxurious feast."

"Are you?"

"Well--am I not? Look at this poor old gown!"

"I'm afraid I didn't notice your--er--gown."

"What did I tell you, Hermy?" said Spike, entering with the teapot.
"Geoff ain't--I mean, isn't--that kind o' guy--I mean mutt--no, I mean
feller. Y' see, Geoff, a girl always thinks a feller's got his lamps--I
mean eyes--on their rags--clo'es, I mean. 'S' funny, ain't it? Gee, but
I'm hungry!"

"So am I!" said Hermione.

"So am I!" said Ravenslee.

"Why, then," quoth Spike, "I'll tell you what--let's all sit down and
eat! I guess I'm full o' brilliant ideas t'night, but this ain't no time
for talk--not with that turkey starin' us in the face, it ain't--isn't,
I mean. So quit chewin' d' rag an' let's chew d' turk' instead--an' Gee,
but that's some brilliant too, I guess!"

So down they sat, and while Hermione presided over the cups and saucers,
Ravenslee carved.

"Light or dark meat, Miss Hermione?" he enquired.

"Herm; likes th' light, but a drumstick for mine--an' please don't
forget th' stuffin', Geoff!"

"Tea, Mr. Geoffrey?"

"Thanks!" he answered, pausing to watch the curve of her shapely neck as
she bent to pour the tea, and to note how her white hand grasped the
battered teapot, little finger delicately poised.

"Say, Geoff--get busy!" said Spike wistfully. "I know the teapot's a bit
off on looks, but I broke the best one and--"

"I didn't even notice the teapot, Spike," said Ravenslee, meeting
Hermione's quick, upward glance.

"Oh, cheese it, Geoff, here you've sat with your fork in th' turk' an'
your knife in th' air, starin' at that teapot a whole minute."

"No, Spike, no! I