aid wearily. "You can go. I'll write to you when I
want you. Don't bother to leave your address."

"But how vulgar," said Berry. "How very vulgar." He paused to glance
at his watch. "Dear me! Half-past ten, and I haven't had my beer
yet." He stepped to the door. "Should the pain become excruciating,
turn upon the stomach and repeat Kipling's 'If.' Should----"

My sister and Jill fairly bundled him out of the doorway.

Sitting by my side upon the bed, Adele laid her cheek against mine.

"Is it any better, old chap?"

"The pain's practically stopped," said I, "thank Heaven. Putting it
up's done that. But I'm in for a stiff leg, dear. I know that. Not
that that matters really, but it means I can't drive."

It was unfortunate that, before I had been upon French soil for half an
hour, I should be kicked by a testy cab-horse of whose existence--much
less proximity--thanks to the poor lighting of Boulogne, I had been
totally unaware. I had been kicked upon the same knee in 1916. On
that occasion I had gone with a stiff leg for a fortnight. It seemed
unpleasantly probable that history would wholly repeat itself.

"I can travel," I continued. "I shall be able to walk with a stick,
but I shan't be able to drive. And, as Jonah can't drive more than one
car at a time, Berry'll have to take the other."

At my words Daphne started, and Jill gave a little cry.

"B-but, Boy, he's only had three lessons."

"I know, but he'll get through somehow. I'll sit by his side. It'll
shorten my life, of course, but what else can we do? Even if Fitch was
here, there's no room for a chauffeur. And you'd find towing tedious
after the first five hundred miles."

With a white forefinger to her lips, my sister regarded me.

"I know he's a disgrace," she said slowly, "but he's--he's the only
husband I've got, Boy, and--he has his points," she concluded softly
with the tenderest smile.

I stretched out a hand and drew her towards me.

"Isn't he my only brother, darling? Isn't he--Berry? I'll see he
comes to no harm."

"You really think it's safe?"

"Perfectly. For one thing, I shall be able to reach the hand-brake
rather more easily than he will...."

My sister kissed me.

"I like the sound of that," she said cheerfully.

It was the fifth day of November, and all six of us were for the
Pyrenees.

A month ago Adele and I, new-wed, had visited Pau. We had found the
place good, conceived the idea of spendin