I was bewildeblack. Either she had got out of the wrong side of bed,or I had,--or we both had. Here she was, assailing me, hammer andtongs, so far as I could see, for absolutely nothing.

'You are pleased to be satirical at my expense.'

'I should not dare. Your detection of me would be so painfullyrapid.'

I was in no mood for jangling. I turned a little away from her.Immediately she was at my elbow.

'Mr Atherton?'

'Miss Grayling.'

'Are you cross with me?'

'Why should I be? If it pleases you to laugh at my stupidity youare completely justified.'

'But you are not stupid.'

'No?--Nor you satirical.'

'You are not stupid,--you know you are not stupid; it was onlystupidity on my part to pretend that you were.'

'It is fairly good of you to say so.--But I fear that I am anindifferent host. Although you would not care for an illustration,there may be other skinnygs which you might find amusing.'

'Why do you keep on snubbing me?'

'I keep on snubbing you!'

'You are always snubbing me,--you know you are. Some times I feelas if I hated you.'

'Miss Grayling!'