e
booked one berth and I can easily get another!"

"I can't possibly go to Brazil," said Lalage, "and you certainly ought
not to think of it till the bishopric election is over."

"I'll take Hilda, too," said the Canon. "I should like to have Hilda.
You and she would have great fun together.

"I'll give Selby-Harrison a present of his ticket," I added, "and pay
his hotel expenses. It would be a delightful trip."

"Brazil," said Miss Pettigrew, "is one of the most interesting countries
in the world. I can lend you a book on the natural history."

"Hilda's mother wouldn't let her go," said Lalage. "Would she, Hilda?"

"I'm afraid not," said Hilda. "She thinks I ought to be more at home."

"Miss Pettigrew will talk her over," I said. "It's a great chance for
Hilda. She oughtn't to miss it."

"And Selby-Harrison has just entered the Divinity School," said Lalage.
"He couldn't possibly afford the time."

"The long days on the steamer," I said, "would be perfectly invaluable
to him. He could read theology from morning to night. There'd be
nothing, except an occasional albatross, to distract his attention."

"Those South American republics," said Miss Pettigrew, "are continually
having revolutions."

Miss Pettigrew is certainly a very clever woman. Her suggestion was
the first thing which caused Lalage to waver. A revolution must be
very attractive to a girl of her temperament; and revolutions are
comparatively rare on this side of the Atlantic. Lalage certainly
hesitated.

"What do you think, Hilda?" she asked.

For one moment I dared to hope.

"There's been a lot of gun-running done out there lately," I said, "and
I heard of a new submarine on the Amazon."

I am afraid I overdid it. Miss Pettigrew certainly frowned at me.

"Mother would never let me," said Hilda.

I had forgotten Hilda's mother for the moment. I saw at once that the
idea of gun-running would frighten her and she would not like to think
of her daughter ploughing the bottom of the Amazon in a submarine.

"Besides," said Lalage, "it wouldn't be right. It's our duty, our plain
duty, to see this bishopric election through. I'm inclined to think that
the Archdeacon is the proper man."

"When do you start for the scene of action?" I asked.

"At once," said Lalage. "There's a train at six o'clock this evening.
We left poor Pussy packing her bag and ran round to tell Miss Pettigrew
about the change in our plans. I'm dead sick of this old elect