well worked _that_ all right!
There was nothing to frighten her to-day--not a thing. Dear lips!
They never trembled once; and no more turning faint. And, my Goody,
how she lectured me! I wonder who's been telling her what. I know why
she did it too. She wanted to feel quite sure she was bossing the
show. And so she was, bless her! But I marched round! Yes, I jolly
well marched round.... Oh, I say! Can't you stop where I put you?"
This, to his tie.

Then, with _her_ golden rose in his button-hole, fastened by _the_ pin
from his flannel coat, off went the Boy to dine with the Master of his
college.

* * * * *

"_And the evening and the morning were the second day._"

* * * * *

THE THIRD DAY

THE BOY INVADES THE KITCHEN

The Boy sat on a corner of the kitchen table, swinging a loose leg, and
watching Martha make hot buttered-toast.

He had arrived early, and, finding no one in the garden, had entered
the house by the garden-door, to pursue investigations upstairs.

On the mat in the hall he saw a pair of goloshes; in the
umbrella-stand, a very large, badly-rolled umbrella; hanging on a peg
near by, a professor's cap and gown.

The Boy stood stock still in the middle of the little hall, and looked
at the goloshes.

Then from the drawing-room, through the closed door, came the voice of
Miss Charteris--full, clear, measured, melodious--reading Greek tragedy.

_errois anaides, en tachei neania_

declaimed Miss Charteris; and the Boy fled.

Arrived in the kitchen, he persuaded Martha that cigarette smoke was
fatal to black-beetles. He went about, blowing fragrant clouds into
every possible crack and cranny. Martha watched him, out of the corner
of her eye, crawling along under the dresser in his immaculate white
flannels, and Martha blessed her stars that her kitchen floor was so
spotlessly clean. Only this morning she had remarked to Jenkins that
he could very well eat his dinner off the boards. Mercifully,
Jenkins--tiresome man though he usually was--had not taken this
literally; or he might have made the floor less fit for the Boy's
perambulations.

Having taken all this trouble in order to establish his unquestioned
right to smoke in Martha's kitchen, and to pose as a public benefactor
while so doing, the Boy seated himself on the edge of the table,
exactly behind Martha; lighted a fresh "Zenith," and prepared to enjoy
himself.