mother and my sister. You will understand
that neither Christopher nor I would care to appear ridiculous in
front of her. So we kept quiet.

"Hallo, Dorothy," said Cecilia; "all by yourself? Where's
Christopher?"

"I'm reading Christopher's book," said Dorothy, ignoring the question.
"May I?"

"Of course, dear," said Cecilia, sitting down. There was a lot more
silence. It grew very hot and uncomfortable under the table.

"What shall we do, Uncle?" whispered Christopher.

"Come on," I said desperately. We crawled out and stood up.

"What on earth----" began Cecilia.

I managed a watery smile. "_Here_ we are," I said to Dorothy.

Dorothy looked at us in surprise.

"You _are_ untidy," she said. "Whatever have you been doing?"

Christopher swallowed indignantly. "We were playing 'Hide and Seek'
with you," he said.

"Oh, I stopped playing a long time ago," said Dorothy. "I'm reading
now." She turned to our book again. Cecilia began to laugh.

"Come and have a wash, Christopher," I said in a strangled voice, and
we moved off sheepishly.

* * * * *

"Aren't girls funny, Uncle Alan?" said Christopher.

"Christopher," I answered, "girls are the very----" Well, I told you
at the beginning what we said to each other.

* * * * *

HIGH EXPLOSIVE ART.

[_The Morning Post_ has been conducting a vigorous campaign
against singers who dispense with careful and prolonged training,
and by their spasmodic and declamatory style suggest the title of
"gaspers."]

Oh, all young folk of tuneful aims
And fancy names like Joan and Jasper,
I hope you'll read (and duly heed)
_The Morning Post_ upon the "gasper."

'Tis not the "fag" that is turned down,
Though that often proves a rasper
Upon the larynx; here the noun
Denotes the human, singing gasper.

Rome was not builded in a day,
Nor even row-boats (_teste_ CLASPER);
No more are voices which will stay,
Unlike the organ of the gasper.

Attorneys need, before they start,
Five years of training, but the grasper
Who grudges one to vocal art
Will end, as he began, a gasper.

Wherefore, ye men and maids who chant,
Refrain at all costs from exasper-
ating _The Morning Post_, which can't
Abide the methods of the gasper.

* * * * *

Another Impending Apology.

"St. ---- Hall was filled last nig