'That we can. There is a tolerable spare room, and James will find a
place for Brown. I am glad to see you looking so much better. Have
you got rid of the pain in your side?'

'Entirely, thank you, for the last few weeks.'

'How is my mother?'

'Very well. She enjoyed the voyage extremely.'

'She won't concoct another Tour?'

'I don't think so,' said John, gravely.

'There has SHE,' indicating his wife, been thinking it her duty to
read the old Italian one, which I never opened in my life. I declare
it would take a dictionary to understand a page. She is scared at the
variety of tongues, and feels as if she was in Babel.'

John was thinking that if he did not know this rattling talk to be a
form of embarrassment, he should take it for effrontery.

'Shall I go and see about the room?' half-whispered Violet.

'Yes, do;' and he opened the door for her, exclaiming, almost before
she was fairly gone, 'There! you want no more explanation.'

She is very lovely!' said John, in a tone full of cordial admiration.

'Isn't she?' continued Arthur, triumphantly. 'Such an out-of-the-way