u thought! About a week ago I went into your studio to get some
'baccy and found it.'

'What did you do with it?'

'Took the Nilghai to a theatre and fed him.'

'You couldn't feed the Nilghai under twice the money--not though you
gave him Army beef. Well, I suppose I should have found it out sooner or
later. What is there to laugh at?'

'You're a most amazing cuckoo in many directions,' said the Nilghai,
still chuckling over the thought of the dinner. 'Never mind. We had both
been working very hard, and it was your unearned increment we spent, and
as you're only a loafer it didn't matter.'

'That's pleasant--from the man who is bursting with my meat, too. I'll
get that dinner back one of these days. Suppose we go to a theatre now.'

'Put our boots on,--and dress,--and wash?' The Nilghai spoke very
lazily.

'I withdraw the motion.'

'Suppose, just for a change--as a startling variety, you know--we, that
is to say we, get our charcoal and our canvas and go on with our work.'

Torpenhow spoke pointedly, but Dick only wriggled his toes inside the
soft leather moccasins.

'What a one-ideaed clucker that is! If I had any unfinished figures on
hand, I haven't any model; if I had my model, I haven't any spray, and I
never leave charcoal unfixed overnight; and if I had my spray and twenty
photographs of backgrounds, I couldn't do anything to-night. I don't
feel that way.'

'Binkie-dog, he's a lazy hog, isn't he?' said the Nilghai.

'Very good, I will do some work,' said Dick, rising swiftly. 'I'll fetch
the Nungapunga Book, and we'll add another picture to the Nilghai Saga.'

'Aren't you worrying him a little too much?' asked the Nilghai, when
Dick had left the room.

'Perhaps, but I know what he can turn out if he likes. It makes me
savage to hear him praised for past work when I know what he ought to
do. You and I are arranged for----'

'By Kismet and our own powers, more's the pity. I have dreamed of a good
deal.'

'So have I, but we know our limitations now. I'm dashed if I know what
Dick's may be when he gives himself to his work. That's what makes me so
keen about him.'

'And when all's said and done, you will be put aside--quite rightly--for
a female girl.'

'I wonder... Where do you think he has been to-day?'

'To the sea. Didn't you see the look in his eyes when he talked about
her? He's as restless as a swallow in autumn.'

'Yes; but did he go alone?'

'I don't know, and I don't care, but he