he exclaimed, fiercely.

"Either of us? For me, I suppose you mean?" said the tutor.

"Which are you?" asked Figgins.

"Which are who?" retorted Mole.

"Why, there are two of you, and I wa--want to know which is the right
one," said Figgins.

"I'm the right one. I always am right," said Mole, aggressively. "You
don't dare to imply I'm wrong, do you?"

"Won't say what I imply," answered Figgins, with dignity; "but I know
you to be only a----"

"Stop, stop, gentlemen," cried Jack. "Let not discord interrupt the
harmony of the festive occasion. Mr. Mole, please tone down the
violence of your language. Mr. Figgins, calm your agitation, and give
us a song."

"A song?" interrupted Mr. Mole, taking the request to himself. "Oh,
with pleasure."

And he struck up one of his favourite bacchanalian chants--

"Jolly nose, Jolly nose, Jolly nose!
The bright rubies that garnish thy tip
Are all sprung from the mines of Canary,
Are all sprung----"

"There's no doubt upon their being all sprung anyhow," whispered
Harkaway to Girdwood. "Stop, stop, Mr. Mole," he cried at this
juncture. "It was Mr. Figgins, not you, that we called upon for a
song."

"Was it?" said the schoolmaster. "Very good; beg pardon. Only thought
you'd prefer somebody who could sing. Figgins can't."

Figgins again looked at Mole, as if he were about to fly at him.

But the cry of "A song, a song by Mr. Figgins!" drowned his
remonstrances.

"Really do'no what to sing, ladies and gen'l'men," protested Figgins.
"Stop a minute. I used to know 'My Harp and Flute.'"

"You mean 'My Heart and Lute,' I suppose?" said Jack.

"Yes, that's it. And I should remember the air, if I hadn't forgotten
the words. Let's see. Stop a minute, head's rather queer. Try the water
cure."

Whereupon Mr. Figgins staggered to the adjacent brook, and, kneeling
down, fairly dipped his head into it.

After having wiped himself with a dinner napkin he rejoined the party,
very much refreshed.

"Tell you what, friends, I'll give you a solo on the flute," he said.
"Something lively; 'Dead March in Saul' with variations."

And without mere ado, he took up his favourite instrument, and prepared
to astonish the company.

If Mr. Figgins did not succeed in astonishing the company, he at least
considerably astonished himself, for when he placed the flute to his
lips and gave a vigorous preliminary blow, not only did he fail to
elicit any musical sound, but he smo