."

"What is his business?" asked her father.

"I don't remember."

"Rich idler, I suppose," Jarvis scorned.

"He used to work when I knew him."

"Well, we shall be glad to see the young man. Would you like me to
change off my afternoon classes and remain at home?"

"Oh, no. Don't think of it!" Bambi cried, with unpremeditated warmth,
which focussed Jarvis's eyes upon her. "He'll be here only a little
while, and we will reminisce. He would bore you to death."

"I like to be cordial to your beaus."

"Professor Parkhurst, I am a married woman."

"Dear me, so you are. I am always forgetting Jarvis. If he is a bore,
I'll lunch at the club."

"Possibly you would prefer me to lunch out, too," said Jarvis,
pointedly.

"Not at all. I want you both here," said Bambi, with irritation, closing
the incident. She had a feeling that she had not handled the situation
as well as she had planned to do.

XII

Thursday, and Mr. Strong arrived with the inevitableness of dreaded
events. Bambi felt convinced that his coming meant the premature death
of her new-born career, so, naturally, she was prepared for grief. An
element of amusement was added, however, by Jarvis's astonishing
behaviour. Ever since the first mention of Mr. Strong's name he had
shown unmistakable signs of dislike for that gentleman. 'It was the most
remarkable revelation of his strange character. Having totally ignored
Bambi himself, it distressed him to think of any other man being
attracted by her. His references to Mr. Strong's coming were many and
satirical. This display of manly inconsistency was nuts and ale to
Bambi. She wondered how much Mr. Strong would play up, and she decided
to give Jarvis Jocelyn an uncomfortable hour. She herself was an adept
in amatory science, but she was a trifle unsure of Mr. Strong. However,
she remembered a certain twinkle in his eye that augured well.

Because it was necessary to enlighten him as to the situation in
advance, she arrayed herself most carefully to go and meet him. She
encountered Jarvis on the stairs. He inspected her charming self, in a
frock the colour of spring green leaves, topped by a crocus-coloured
hat, like a flower. She deliberately pranced before him.

"Aren't I a delight to the eye?"

He stared at her coldly.

"Such ardent admiration embarrasses me, Jarvis," she protested.

"You look very nice," he admitted.

"Nice! Nice! I look like a daffodil, or a crocus, or some other pleasan