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 tone, "I do assure you, Hilary—on my word of honor—that gas is the very last thing you need."

"Oh, get out! Get out!" said Hilary Vance.

Mr. James got out.

The next afternoon Polly ooly observed that Mr. Hilary Vance was enjoying an uncommon lightness of spirit. He sang, or to be exact he bellowed heartily, though with little regard to time or tune, over his work. He bubbled over with laughter. Then there came a gentle knock at the front door; he went to it, and ushered Ermyntrude into the studio.

She came in bridling, glanced with contemptuous indifference at Pollyooly and the Lump, and said in a mincing, languishing voice: "O 'Ilary, why ever didn't you come this mornin' to tyke me to choose my engygement ring as you said you would. I didn't expeck you to behyve like this, when it was only last night you harsked me to be yours."

Mr. Hilary Vance looked at her blankly, opened his mouth, and gasped as only a big man can gasp: "Last night? Asked you to be mine?" he said in blank consternation.

"Last night as ever was," simpered Ermyntrude,