"Yes, but it's not very bad, thanks. I think you saved my life."

"I'm afraid that's putting it rather high. But you might have been
stung, so I'm thankful I was there. At the same time, I can't help
feeling that it is to my company that you owe this--this unwarrantable
assault. It's me they're after. They want to swarm on me. Or else
they've recognized one of their enemies. They said, 'That's a beer,
one of the beers. Let us slay him, and the intoxicants...' Exactly.
Of course, Berry and Daphne are dead. It's really very tiresome. With
Jill and Jonah both away, I don't know what on earth we shall do about
tennis tomorrow."

"I wish we could have some air," said the girl.

I opened the near side window an inch and stood by to close it if
necessary. But the bees kept to the other side, where they crawled
venomously over the pane.

"What ever are we to do?" she said.

"Wait awhile," said I.

"Excuse me, but you don't happen to have such a thing as a toad on you,
have you?"

"I hope not."

"That's a pity," I said thoughtfully.

"Sorry to disappoint you," she said. "Have you lost yours?"

"It's all right," said I. "Toads are with us. They simply hate bees.
I'm going to get a pack of toads and hunt them. I shall advertise in
the Exchange and Mart tomorrow. How's the ankle?"

"A little stiff."

"Let me rub it, please. It's the only thing."

"Oh, no, thanks."
"Don't be ungrateful," I said. "What about my ear?"

She set a small foot on the opposite seat. I took off the little shoe.
At length:

"I say," she said suddenly, "what about dinner?"

"Dinner!" I exclaimed. "Oh, dinner's gone right out. Simply not done
in the best circles. Dinner indeed. My dear, you surprise me!"

"Ah, but you see I don't move in the best circles. I'm only very
common and vulgar and actually get hungry sometimes. Shocking, isn't
it?"

"Never mind," I said encouragingly. "You are still young. If you begin
to break off this indecent habit--"

"It seems I have begun. It's a quarter to nine. You know it is awful.
If you had told me yesterday that to-night I should be sitting shut up
in a horseless brougham at the back of an inn, alone with a strange man
massaging my foot, I should have--"

"Of course you would. But there you are, lass, you never know your
luck."

She looked at me darkly.

"Needs must when the devil drives," she said.

I looked at her.

"My skin may be thick," said I, "but i