to find that way as soon as he
possibly could.

When Mawley told him that she was in his drawing-room, he could
scarcely believe his joyful ears. He had to put a constraint on
himself to walk to its door in a decorous fashion fit for Mawley's
eyes, and not dash to it at full speed. He entered the room with his
eyes shining very brightly.

Mrs. Dangerfield greeted him coldly, even a little haughtily. She was
looking grave and ill at ease.

"I've come about a rather unpleasant matter, Sir James," she said as
they shook hands. "I find that these children have been blackmailing
you; and I've brought them to apologize. I--I'm exceedingly distressed
about it."

"Oh, there's no need to be--no need at all. It was rather a joke," Sir
James protested quickly.

"But blackmailing isn't a joke--though of course they didn't realize
what a serious thing it is--"

"It was the Douglases doing it," broke in the Terror in an explanatory
tone.

"I don't think you ought to have given way to them, Sir James," said
Mrs. Dangerfield severely.

"But I hadn't any choice, I assure you. They had me in a cleft stick,"
protested Sir James.

"Well then you ought to have come straight to me," said Mrs.
Dangerfield.

"Oh, but really--a little fishing--what is a little fishing? I
couldn't come bothering you about a thing like that," protested Sir
James.

"But it isn't a little thing if you get it like that," said Mrs.
Dangerfield. "Anyhow, it's going to stop; and they're going to
apologize."

She turned to them; and as if at a signal the Twins said with one voice:

"I apologize for blackmailing you, Sir James."

The Terror spoke with an amiable nonchalance; the words came very
stiffly from the lips of Erebus, and she wore a lowering air.

"Oh, not at all--not at all--don't mention it. Besides, I owe you an
apology for not answering your letter," said Sir James in all the
discomfort of a man receiving something that is not his due. Then he
heaved a sigh of relief and added: "Well, that's all right. And now I
hope you'll do all the fishing you want to."

"Certainly not; I can't allow them to fish your water any more," said
Mrs. Dangerfield sternly.

"Oh, but really," said Sir James with a harried air.

"No," said Mrs. Dangerfield; and she held out her hand.

"But you'll have some tea--after that hot walk!" cried Sir James.

"No, thank you, I must be getting home," said Mrs. Dangerfield firmly.

Sir James did not