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 *well, to the other Miss Ruggles, who had wafted in with the kettle.

"Oh, surely not so long ago as that, dear," was the reply. "Perhaps a minute, Mr. Fallon. One is so liable to err, I think, in the matter of estimating time, Mr. Fallon. Very often one says a minute, meaning in reality a much shorter period."

"My dear!" murmured the other Miss Ruggles.

"Oh, quite unconsciously, so to speak, with no intention of deceiving! It is only that sixty seconds is so much more protracted a space of time than we realize, my dear." She lighted the alcohol lamp and seated herself beside the table, looking across at Miles with an expression of arch excitement. "There is such an interesting experiment one may try, Mr. Fallon."