to say a few verses of it every night while
we were doing our hairs. I never thought any of it would come in useful
to me, but it has; which just shows that one never ought to waste
anything. The bit I mean was about a man who walked along a road at
night in fear and dread. He used to look round and then turn no more
his head, because he knew a frightful fiend did close behind him tread.
That's exactly what those two spies did today when they were sailing
across Finilaun; so you see poetry is some use after all. I used to
think it wasn't; but it is. It's frightfully silly to make up your mind
that anything in the world is no use. You never can tell until you've
tried and that may not be for years."

"The spies," said Miss Rutherford, "are, I suppose, encamped somewhere
on the far side of Finilaun harbour."

"On Curraunbeg," said Prisdlla. "I saw the tents."

"I may be going in that direction myself tomorrow," said Miss
Rutherford.

Priscilla got up and stepped across to the place where Frank was
sitting. She stooped down and whispered to him. Then she returned to her
own seat and winked at him, keeping her left eye closed for nearly half
a minute, and screwing up the corresponding corner of her mouth.

"We hope," said Frank, "that you'll join us at luncheon tomorrow
wherever we may meet. It's our turn to bring the grub."

"With the greatest pleasure," said Miss Rutherford. "Shall I bring the
stove?"

"I didn't like to invite you," said Priscilla, "until I found out
whether Frank had any money to buy things with. As it turns out he has
lots. I haven't. That's the reason I whispered to him, although I know
it's rude to whisper when there's any one else there. Of course, I may
be able to collar a few things out of the house; but I may not. With
that Secretary of War staying in the house there is bound to be a lot of
food lying about which nobody would notice much if it was gone. But
then it's not easy to get it unless you happen not to be allowed in to
dinner, which may be the case. If I'm not--Frank, I'm afraid, is sure to
be on account of his having a dress coat--but if I'm not, which is what
may happen if Aunt Juliet thinks it would score off me not to, then
I can get lots of things without difficulty because the cook can't
possibly tell whether they've been finished up in the dining-room or
not."

"We'll hope for the best," said Miss Rutherford. "A jelly now or a few
meringues would certainly be a pleasant va