he call me Freckles?" said
Wiggins in a vengeful tone. "Nobody can help having freckles."

CHAPTER III

AND THE CATS' HOME

They watched the retreating figure of Captain Baster till it was lost
to sight among the gorse, in silence. They were glad at his going, but
sorry at the manner of it, since Mrs. Dangerfield looked distressed and
vexed.

Then the vicar said: "There is a good deal to be said for the point of
view of Wiggins, Mrs. Dangerfield. After all, Captain Baster was the
original aggressor."

"Nevertheless I must apologize for my son's exploding such an
uncommonly violent bomb at a quiet garden party," said the higher
mathematician. "I suspect he underrated its effect."

His tone was apologetic, but there was no excess of contrition in it.

"What I think is that Captain Baster's notion of humor is catching; and
that it affected Erebus and Wiggins," said Sir Maurice amiably. "And
if we start apologizing, there will be no end to it. I should have to
come in myself as the maker of the bomb who carelessly left it lying
about."

"It was certainly a happy effort," said the vicar, smiling. Then he
changed the subject firmly, saying: "We're going to London next week;
perhaps you could recommend a play to us to go to, Sir Maurice."

A faint ripple of grateful relaxation ran round the circle and
presently it was clear that in taking himself off Captain Baster had
lifted a wet blanket of quite uncommon thickness from the party. They
were talking easily and freely; and Mrs. Dangerfield and Sir Maurice
were seeing to it that every one, even Mrs. Blenkinsop and Mrs. Morton,
were getting their little chances of shining. The Twins and Wiggins
slipped away; and their elders talked the more at their ease for their
going. In the end the little gathering which Captain Baster had so
nearly crushed, broke up in the best of spirits, all the guests in a
state of amiable satisfaction with Mrs. Dangerfield, themselves and one
another.

After they had gone Sir Maurice and Mrs. Dangerfield discussed the
exploits of Erebus; and he did his best to abate her distress at the
two onslaughts his violent niece had made on a guest. The Terror was
also doing his best in the matter: with unbending firmness he prevented
Erebus, eager to enjoy her uncle's society, from returning to the house
till it was time to dress for dinner. He wished to give his mother
time to get over the worst of her annoyance.

Thanks to their