er ones. I must speak to him about
it."

Buz sighed heavily.

* * * * * *

Just once more did Eloquent see Mary before Parliament met. It was in
a shop in Marlehouse the day after he had received his lesson in
kicking off, and he was buying ties. Eloquent was critical about ties,
he had by long apprenticeship penetrated to the true inwardness of
their importance, and this afternoon he was very difficult to please.
Many boxes were laid upon the counter before him, the counter was
strewn with "neckwear," and yet he had only found one to his liking.
While the assistant was away seeking others from distant shelves,
Eloquent busied himself in arranging the scattered ties carefully in
their proper boxes. For him it was a perfectly natural thing to do,
but he happened to look into the mirror that faced the counter, and in
it he beheld Mary Ffolliot seated at the counter behind him, and she
was watching him with fascinated interest. Buz was with her and they
were buying socks. Eloquent's deft hands dropped to his sides and he
turned furiously red. For no one knew better than he that it is not
usual for a customer to arrange goods in a shop.

The young lady in the mirror had discreetly turned her head away, the
assistant came back, Eloquent bought two ties without having the least
idea what they were like, and then he heard a voice behind him saying,
"How do you do, Mr Gallup--we've not seen you since the election to
congratulate you," and Mary was standing at his side holding out her
hand.

He shook hands with Mary, he shook hands with Buz, he mumbled something
incoherent, and they were gone.

The Liberal member for Marlehouse rushed from the shop in an opposite
direction without taking or paying for his ties, and the astute
assistant packed them up, having added three that Eloquent did not buy,
for the good of the trade.

CHAPTER XVI

MAINLY ABOUT REGINALD PEEL

The holidays had started badly, there was no doubt about that. All the
young Ffolliots were agreed about it. First Buz broke his arm on
Boxing-day. That was upsetting in itself, and Buz, as an invalid, was
a terrible nuisance. Then the Ganpies had to return to Woolwich much
sooner than they had expected: another matter for gloom and woe. And
finally came the crushing intelligence that Mr Ffolliot did not intend
to start for his oasis till the beginning of February, after the twins
had gone back to school and