"You're surely not going to make coins disappear, or something primitive
of that sort?" said Clovis contemptuously.

"I think it very unkind of you not to carry out my suggestion of turning
me into a wolf," said Mary Hampton, as she crossed over to the
conservatory to give her macaws their usual tribute from the dessert
dishes.

"I have already warned you of the danger of treating these powers in a
mocking spirit," said Leonard solemnly.

"I don't believe you can do it," laughed Mary provocatively from the
conservatory; "I dare you to do it if you can. I defy you to turn me
into a wolf."

As she said this she was lost to view behind a clump of azaleas.

"Mrs. Hampton--" began Leonard with increased solemnity, but he got no
further. A breath of chill air seemed to rush across the room, and at
the same time the macaws broke forth into ear-splitting screams.

"What on earth is the matter with those confounded birds, Mary?"
exclaimed Colonel Hampton; at the same moment an even more piercing
scream from Mavis Pellington stampeded the entire company from their
seats. In various attitudes of helpless horror or instinctive defence
they confronted the evil-looking grey beast that was peering at them from
amid a setting of fern and azalea.

Mrs. Hoops was the first to recover from the general chaos of fright and
bewilderment.