s, and when we arrived at Gray's
grave, you found the solemn yew-tree, and perched yourself on a wet,
cold gravestone, and read Gray's Elegy aloud, while I held an umbrella
over your heads and enjoyed myself. Now you want to put in Sunday at
Canterbury, where, if it isn't more cheerful, you will probably have to
bury me."

"Jimmie, you haven't any soul!" I said, in disgust.

Jimmie grunted.

A knock on the door.

"Please excuse me for interrupting you," said Mary, "but there are two
reporters down-stairs, who want to know if they may photograph the
front of the house for the Sunday _Battle Ax_."

"Yes, I don't care. Tell them to go ahead."

She shut the door and went away.

_Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie at Canterbury_.

"Oh, Jimmie," sighed his wife.

Another knock.

"Mary, what _do_ you want?" I said, savagely.

She stuttered.

"And please, Missis, they want to know if you will just come and sit on
the doorstep a moment with a book in your hand. I told them Mr.
Jardine wasn't at home, so they said you would do!"

"No, I won't. Tell my sister to put on my hat and hold the book in
front of her face and be photographed for me."

"Very well, Missis."

She went out, and again I numbered the page and essayed to write. But
I could not. I was rapidly becoming mired. I stonily refused to leave
my desk, but sat staring at the wall, trying to get the thread of my
narrative, when--Mary again.

She was in tears.

"I am afraid to speak to you, and I am afraid _not_ to speak to you,"
she stammered.

"Well, what is it?"

"Indeed, I try, Missis, but I can't seem to help you any. There are
two young girls in the drawing-room, who want to know if Mr. Jardine
will give his autograph to the Highland Alumnae Club. It has 472
members. They sent up their cards."

I simply moaned.

"That will be a whole hour's work! I can't do it now. (Mary knows I
always write Aubrey's autographs for him!) Tell them to leave the
cards and call for them to-morrow."

_Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie at Canterbury_.

"How in the world, Mrs. Jimmie, did you come to throw yourself away on
Jimmie?" I said, with an impertinence which was only appreciated by
Jimmie.

Mrs. Jimmie took me with infinite seriousness, and looked horrified at
the sacrilege. She got up and crossed the room and sat down beside
Jimmie on the sofa, without saying a word. Her tall, full figure
towered above the gentlemanly slouch of Jimmie's boyish proportio