ound and saying, `I'm off to Africa!' as if your presence in
the same hemisphere was more than they could bear. You are a champion
wet blanket, Rob! Your items of good news are calculated to drive your
friend into melancholy madness. I hope Mellicent's disclosures will be
of a more agreeable nature, or I shall be sorry I came out at all."

"I _do_ love to see you in a temper, Mariquita. You are a capital
little spitfire. Go on abusing me, do! You can't think how I enjoy
it!" returned Rob promptly; which request, needless to say, was
sufficient to seal Miss Peggy's lips until the vicarage gate was
reached.

Two eager faces appeared pressed against a window, and Mrs Asplin and
Mellicent hurried out into the hall to greet their visitors and escort
them into the schoolroom with an air of suppressed excitement. Tea was
laid on the centre table in the old-time fashion which Peggy approved,
and the vicar was standing before the empty grate, trying to look
dignified and proper, with the most comical expression of amusement
twitching his long lean face and twinkling out of his eyes.

"What do you think?" began Mrs Asplin tragically, seating herself in
state in an old armchair and endeavouring to keep up an imposing front,
despite the fact that the absence of the fourth castor sent her tilting
first to one side and then to the other. "_What_ do you think we have
got to show you in the drawing-room?"

"What do you think? What do you think?" echoed Mellicent all in one
breath; and the two visitors glanced at each other in mischievous
amusement. These dear, simple-minded people so intensely enjoyed their
little mysteries and excitements that it would be cruel indeed not to
indulge them. Rob ruffled his locks and frowned bewilderment, while
Peggy rolled her eyes to the ceiling and cried:

"I've _no_ idea, but don't tell; let me guess it! Animal or mineral?"

"Animal."

"Fine or superfine?"

"Not fair! Not fair! You can only put questions that can be answered
by `Yes' or `No.'"

"How strict you are, to be sure! Well, then, is it mineral? No!
Vegetable? No! Animal? Yes! Ornamental? It _must_ be ornamental, or
you wouldn't be so proud of it!"

Mellicent and her mother looked at one another and queried with uplifted
eyebrows. The girl formed a vigorous "No!" The woman smiled
indulgently and said:

"I think it is! I think it is _very_ pretty!" and the vicar could throw
no further light on the subject