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280 that he knew she liked was a thing that required explanation far more than her acceptance of it would have done. The one was quite unaccountable; the other would have been perfectly natural. And the thing that had lain slumbering in his own mind, and had just now raised its head, did more. It opened its eyes, and its ears were pricked.

Lucia gave a long elaborate yawn.

"Quite true," she said, "though not complimentary this time. But I allow that to get half a dozen people to come to the Mediterranean at a few days' notice is beyond my probable powers. Mind, I only say probable. So let us go alone. You are angelic to me, Edgar; I do so want the sun. Let us make arrangements to-morrow. I am sleepy, sleepy. Are you going to bed?"

"Not yet," said he. "I have things to do."

She kissed him.

"I always foresaw that bimetallism would wreck our lives, she said. "But it is a good thing to get rid of pennies and halfpennies. At least, I hope you keep silver and gold as the two metals. Am I talking nonsense? I hope so; it shows I shall go to sleep at once."

The "things" that Edgar had to do appeared, when his wife left him, to be of an inactive character, and as far as action was concerned, required only that he should frown at the fire. He did so for a considerable period.