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CHAPTER XVII.

GLANCING up from his betting-book, Raleigh caught sight of someone on
the lawn, and went to the window to see who it was.

It was then that Grandfather Iden raised his great grey hat, and brought
it with so lowly a sweep down to the very ground before this demi-god of
his.

"Hullo! Fred, I say! Come, quick!" dragging him off the sofa. "Here's
the Behemoth."

"The Behemoth--the Deluge!" said Fred, incoherently, still half asleep.

"Before that," said Raleigh. "I told you I'd show him to you some day.
That's the Behemoth."

Some grand folk keep a hump-backed cow, or white wild cattle, or strange
creatures of that sort, in their parks as curiosities. The particular
preserve of the Pamments was Grandfather Iden--antediluvian Iden--in
short, the Behemoth.

It is not everybody who has got a Behemoth on show.

"There's a girl with him," said Fred.

"Have her in," said Raleigh. "Wake us up," ringing the bell. And he
ordered the butler to fetch old Iden in.

How thoroughly in character with Human Life it was that a man like
Grandfather Iden--aged, experienced, clever, learned, a man of wise old
books, should lower his ancient head, and do homage to Raleigh Pamment!

"Wherefore come ye not to court?
Skelton swears 'tis glorious sport.
Chattering fools and wise men listening."

Accordingly the butler went out bare-headed--his head was as bare as
Mont Blanc--and, with many a gracious smile, conveyed his master's
wishes. The Behemoth, mopping and mowing, wiping his slobbery old mouth
in the excess of his glorification, takes Amaryllis by the arm, and
proceeds to draw her towards the mansion.

"But, grandpa--grandpa--really I'd rather not go. Please, don't make me
go. No--no--I can't," she cried, in a terror of disgust. She would not
willingly have set foot on the Pamment threshold, no, not for a crown of
gold, as the old song says unctuously.

"Don't be afraid," said Iden. "Nothing to be afraid of"--mistaking her
hesitation for awe.

"Afraid!" repeated Amaryllis, in utter bewilderment. "Afraid! I don't
want to go."

"There's nothing to be afraid of, I'm sure," said the butler in his
most insidious tones. "Mr. Pamment so very particularly wished to see
you."

"Come--come," said old Iden, "don't be silly," as she still hung back.
"It's a splendid place inside--there, lean on me, don't be afraid," and
so the grandfather pulling her one s