Dr. Smith, "he must be quite egsceptional."

"You needn't talk about her as if she was a monster--I mean were,"
corrected herself Miss Fossett, with a hasty glance towards the Wee
Laddie. "There isn't a man I know that's worthy of her."

"I mean," explained the doctor, "dat he must be a man of character-
-of brain. Id is de noble man dat is attracted by de noble woman."

"By the chorus-girl more often," suggested Miss Fossett.

"We must hope for the best," counselled Peter. "I cannot believe
that a clever, capable woman like Mary Ramsbotham would make a fool
of herself."

"From what I have seen," replied Miss Fossett, "it's just the
clever people--as regards this particular matter--who do make fools
of themselves."

Unfortunately Miss Fossett's judgment proved to be correct. On
being introduced a fortnight later to Miss Ramsbotham's fiance, the
impulse of Bohemia was to exclaim, "Great Scott! Whatever in the
name of--" Then on catching sight of Miss Ramsbotham's
transfigured face and trembling hands Bohemia recollected itself in
time to murmur instead: "Delighted, I'm sure!" and to offer
mechanical congratulations. Reginald Peters was a pretty but
remarkably foolish-looking lad of about two-and-twenty, with curly
hair and receding chin; but to Miss Ramsbotham evidently a
promising Apollo. Her first meeting with him had taken place at
one of the many political debating societies then in fashion,