ngement? But ain't you
afraid if you go around patting the scenery on the head this way,
you'll have the lake overflow?

_Bob. P._ Ha-ha-ha! One in the eye for _you_, CULCHARD!

_Culch._ (_with dignity_). Surely one may express a natural enthusiasm
without laying oneself open--?

_Miss T._ Gracious, yes! I should hope you wouldn't want to show your
enthusiasm _that_ way--like a Japanese nobleman!

_Culch._ (_to himself_). Now that's coarse--_really_
coarse!--(_Aloud._)--I seem to be unable to open my mouth now without
some ridiculous distortion--

_Miss T._ My!--but that's a serious symptom--isn't it? You don't feel
like you were going to have lock-jaw, do you, Mr. CULCHARD?

[_CULCHARD falls back to the rear once more. Later--Mr.
VAN BOODELER has joined the party; HYPATIA has contrived
to detach her brother, CULCHARD has sought refuge with
PODBURY._

_Miss T._ (_to VAN B._). So that's what kept you? "Well, it sounds
just too enchanting. But I cann't answer for what Miss PRENDERGAST
will say to it. It mayn't suit her notions of propriety.

_Mr. Van B._ I expect she'll be superior to Britannic prejudices of
that kind. I consider your friend a highly cultivated and charming
lady, MAUD. She produces that impression upon me.

_Miss T._ I presume, from that, she has shown an intelligent interest
in the great American novel?

_Mr. Van B._ Why, yes; it enlists her literary sympathies--she sees
all its possibilities.

_Miss T._ And they're pretty numerous, too. But here she comes. You'd
better tell her your plan right now.

_Miss P._ (_in an earnest undertone to BOB, as they approach,
followed by CULCH. and BOB_). You _must_ try and be sensible about
it, BOB; if _you_ are too blind to see that she is only--

BOB (_sulkily_). All _right_! Haven't I _said_ I'd go? What's the good
of _jawing_ about it?

_Mr. V.B._ (_to Miss P._) I've been telling my cousin I've been
organising a little water-party for this evening--moonlight,
mandolins, Menaggio. If you find that alliteration has any
attractions, I hope you and your brother will do me the pleasure of--

_Miss P._ I'm afraid not, thanks. We have all our packing to do. We
find we shall have to leave early to-morrow.

[_Van B.'s face falls; BOB listens gloomily to_ Miss T.'s
rather perfunctory expressions of regret; PODBURY looks
anxious and undecided; CULCHARD does his best to control an
unseemly joy._

* * *