r seat.

The silence that fell was oppressive. Captain Baster gazed earnestly
at Erebus, his roving black eyes fixed in an incredulous unwinking
stare.

"That shows you the danger of jumping to hasty conclusions," said the
higher mathematician in his clear agreeable voice. "I made sure it was
the Terror."

"So did I," said the vicar.

"I'd have bet on it," said the squire.

The silence fell again. Mechanically Captain Baster rubbed the blue
bump on his marble brow.

Erebus broke the silence; she said: "Has any one heard Wiggins' new
song?"

The squire, hastily and thoughtlessly, cried: "No! Let's hear it!"

"Come on, Wiggins!" cried the vicar heartily.

They felt that the situation was saved.

Sir Maurice did not share their relief; he knew what was coming, knew
it in the depths of his horror-stricken heart. He ground his teeth
softly and glared at the piquant and glowing face of his niece as if he
could have borne the earth's suddenly opening and swallowing her up.

The blushing Wiggins held back a little, and kicked his left foot with
his right. Then pushed forward by the eager Terror, to whom Erebus had
chanted the song before lunch, he stepped forward and in his dear
shrill treble, sang, slightly out of tune:

"_Where did his colonel dig him up,
So young, so fair, so sweet,
With his shining nose, and his square, square toes?
Was it Wapping or Basinghall Street?_"

As he sang Wiggins looked artlessly at Captain Baster; as he finished
everybody was looking at Captain Baster's boots; his feet required them
square-toed.

Captain Baster's face was a rich rose-pink; he, glared round the frozen
circle now trying hard not to look at his boots; he saw the faces melt
into irrepressible smiles; he looked to Sir Maurice, the man he had
made his bosom friend, for an indignant outburst; Sir Maurice was
smiling, too.

Captain Baster snorted fiercely; then he swelled with splendid dignity,
and said loudly, but thickly, "I refuse! Yes, I refuse to mix in a
society where children are brought up as hooligans yes: as hooligans!"

He turned on his heel, strode to the gate, and turned and bellowed,
"Hooligans!"

He flung himself through the gate and strode violently across the
common.

"Oh, Wiggins! How could you?" cried Mrs. Dangerfield in a tone of
horror.

"It wasn't Wiggins! It was me! I taught him. He didn't understand,"
said Erebus loyally.

"I did understand--quite. But why did