own; it does not become you.
You're a pair of impostors. Think I'm blind? You don't come here to
call upon a poor old woman like--Quick, Percy, my dear boy! Blow it
out; we shall have the room in a blaze."

"No, no, be cool," said Guest, and he made for the spirit kettle, whose
lamp had become overheated, and was sending up quite a volume of flame.
But Stratton was nearer, and taking out his handkerchief, he turned it
into a pad, dabbed it on the lamp, and the light was smothered.

"Oh, dear me!" sighed Miss Jerrold in tones full of relief, "now, that
was very clever. I do like presence of mind. Sugar, Mr Stratton?"

He bowed stiffly.

"Haven't burned yourself, have you, my dear?"

"Oh, no; my glove protected my hand," said Stratton, looking at the
stiff, formal, handsome old body; half amused, half pleased, by the
maternal "my dear."

"Ah, now you're smiling at me," she said quickly. "Sugar, Percy?"

"A good deal, please, to take the taste of your harsh words out of my
mouth."

"There, then--two lumps. I know you take sugar, Malcolm Stratton, and
cream. Well, my dear, I'm obliged to speak out; for you really are a
pair of impostors, and I cannot have my house made a meeting place for
would-be lovers. There--there--there, Mr Stratton, don't pray turn
like that, and look as if you were going to rush away. Mine is a very
delicate position, and I know my brother will be taking me to task some
day about all this. Now, do take my advice; and give it all up--Percy
Guest, if you break that cup I'll never forgive you. It cannot be
matched."

"Would you advise us to go and try our fortunes in Australia, Miss
Jerrold?" said Guest quietly, as he replaced the tiny cup in the middle
of its saucer, after nearly sending it on the carpet.

"No, I would not, you stupid boy. There, I don't mean you at all. I
dare say Edie will be silly enough to let you wheedle her into matrimony
some day--a goose."

Guest touched his breast.

"You? No," said the lady sharply, "Edie. But you two are nobodies. I
was thinking about Mr Stratton, here. Now, don't you think, my dear,
you had better give it all up?"

She held out her hand with a look of gentle sympathy to him, and he
caught it and kissed it.

"Do you think I ever could?" he said, in a low voice while Guest began
to display great interest in the painting of the teacup.

"No, I suppose not," said Miss Jerrold, with a sigh. "It's very sad,
you see, poor girl