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 head against the Djinn's broad shoulder.

Fen's chair was empty when his mother and father returned to it, and for a moment they were dumfounded.

"I suppose Mammy took him," said Norvell; and then, all at once, "Upon my word, Thornton, is it you?"

"Even I—Siddereticus," said a tall figure that loomed toward them out of the dusk.

"Then I have your consent, Mrs. Norvell?" Thornton asked, as he stood ready to take his leave some little time later.

"Well—yes," she replied, "I really don't see how it could do any harm, as you speak of it, though I never should have thought of it as possible; and it's really too kind of you, Mr.-er-Siddereticus."