said.

"Not a bit. How like a man! Don't you see, the fun used to be in playing
them backwards and forwards between our two selves--like ping-pong, you
know! It was clinking!"

She sighed regretfully.

"Now I shall either have to avoid men or marry them," she concluded,
vaguely but regretfully. "Before, if they got in the way, I could always
volley them back to Dilly. Now--one _can't_ play ping-pong all by
oneself!"

III.

Dilly's engagement, as is usual under such circumstances, afforded my
household many opportunities for airy badinage and innocent merriment.

Dolly always heralded her coming into the billiard-room, where the
affianced pair had staked out a claim, by a cough of penetrating
severity, and usually entered the room with her features obscured by an
open umbrella. On several occasions, too, she impersonated her sister;
and once, when Dicky was spending a week-end in the house, was only
prevented by the fraction of a second from robbing that incensed damosel
of her morning salute.

My share in the proceedings was limited to a single constrained
interview with Dicky, at which, feeling extremely rude and inquisitive,
I asked him the usual stereotyped questions about his income, prospects,
and habits (most of which I knew only too well already), which, being
satisfactorily answered, I rang the bell for the Tantalus, and thanked
heaven that the Twins were not Triplets. I had indeed suggested that
Dilly's nearest and most natural protector was her brother, Master
Gerald, and that Dicky should apply not for my consent but his. This
motion, however, was negatived without a division. I was sorry, for I
think my brother-in-law would have shown himself worthy of the occasion.

My wife received the news of the engagement with all the enthusiasm
usually exhibited by a Salvation lassie when a fresh convert is hustled
forward to the "saved" bench, and henceforth divided her time between
ordering Dilly's trousseau and giving tea-parties, at which the
prospective bridegroom was produced and passed round, "as if," to use
his own expression, "he were the newest thing in accordion-pleating."

As regards Robin's share in the event, I can only recall one incident.
He had been away at Stoneleigh, the largest town in my constituency, on
some party business, and when he returned home the engagement had been
announced for nearly a week.

"I must go and offer my good wishes to Miss Dilly," he said, after
hearing the