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 homeward tramp and its recriminations, in which Sprawson was suddenly felt to be having the last word now.

"But surely Major Mangles interviewed you first?" inquired Heriot, with becoming gravity.

"Oh, yes; he took us under the trees and asked us questions," said Sprawson, forcing the gay note a little for the first time.

"Questions he'd no earthly right to ask!" cried Cave with confidence.

"You didn't take that tone with Major Mangles, I hope, Cave?"

"I daresay I did, sir."

"Then I can't say I wonder at his letting you both walk back. Of course, if you didn't answer his questions satisfactorily, it might alter his whole view of the matter, at least so far as you two were concerned in it."

"We couldn't tell him more than we knew ourselves, sir," protested Sprawson.

"Not more," said Heriot, pensively. "No—certainly not more!" It was only his tone that added "if as much"—and only the few who heard through it. "I hope, at any rate, that you got your tea?" said Heriot, with a brisk glance at the clock over the row of cups. Cave major looked blacker than before, but Sprawson brightened at once.

"Oh, yes, sir, thank you! Lady Augusta sent for us on purpose, and it ended in our handing round the cups and things. That was the redeeming feature of the afternoon. But of course I'm only speaking for myself."

Cave's chiselled nostrils spoke for him.

"Well, there seems no more to be said," remarked Heriot, in valedictory voice. The attentive throng parted before his stride. "I must confess," he added, however, turning at the door, "that I myself don't understand