PTER V.

IN WHICH THE BISHOP EATS JAM TART, AND MISS MATILDA HUMBLE-PIE 250

CHAPTER VI.

IN WHICH MISS ARMINSTER PROPOSES TO MARRY AGAIN 269

CHAPTER VII.

IN WHICH MISS ARMINSTER VERIFIES THE PROVERB 288

PART I.

_AMERICA_.

CHAPTER I.

IN WHICH CECIL BANBOROUGH ACHIEVES FAME AND THE "DAILY LEADER" A
"SCOOP."

Cecil Banborough stood at one of the front windows of a club which faced
on Fifth Avenue, his hands in his pockets, and a cigarette in his mouth,
idly watching the varied life of the great thoroughfare. He had returned
to the city that morning after a two weeks' absence in the South, and,
having finished his lunch, was wondering how he could manage to put in
the time till the 4:30 express left for Meadowbrook. 2 P.M., he
reflected ruefully, was an hour when New York had no use and no
resources for men of leisure like himself.

Yet even for a mere onlooker the panorama of the street was of unusual
interest. The avenue was ablaze with bunting, which hurrying thousands
pointed out to their companions, while every street-corner had its
little group of citizens, discussing with feverish energy and gestures
of ill-concealed disquietude the situation of which the gay flags were
the outward and visible sign. For in these latter days of April, 1898, a
first-class Republic had, from purely philanthropic motives, announced
its intention of licking a third-rate Monarchy into the way it should
go. Whereat the good citizens had flung broadcast their national emblem
to express a patriotic enthusiasm they did not feel, while the wiser
heads among them were already whispering that the war was not merely
unjustifiable, but might be expensive.

All these matters, important as they doubtless were, did not interest
Cecil Banborough, and indeed were quite dwarfed by the fact that this
uncalled-for war had diverted the press from its natural functions, and
for the time being had thrown utterly into the shade his new sensational
novel, "The Purple Kangaroo." His meditations were, however,
interrupted by the sound of voices using perfectly good English, but
with an accent which bespoke a European parentage.

"'The Purple Kangaroo,'" said one. "It is sufficiently striking--_Si,
Senor_?"

"It serves the purpose well, _mi amigo_," replied the other. "It is, as
you say, striking; indeed nothing better could be devised; while its
reputation--" And the