"The Egyptians," ventured Mrs. Jasher rashly.

Braddock glared. "Nothing of the sort, dear lady," he snorted
angrily. "Absurd, ridiculous! I am inclined to believe that
Egypt was merely a colony of that vast island of Atlantis
mentioned by Plato. There--if my theory is correct--
civilization begun, and the kings of Atlantis--doubtless the
gods of historical tribes--governed the whole world, including
that portion which we now term South America."

"Do you mean to say that there were Yankees in those days?"
inquired Mrs. Jasher frivolously.

The Professor tucked his hands under his shabby coattails and
strode up and down the room warming his rage, which was provoked
by such ignorance.

"Good heavens, madam, where have you lived?" he exclaimed
explosively--"are you a fool, or merely an ignorant woman? I am
talking of prehistoric times, thousands of years ago, when you
were probably a stray atom embedded in the slime."

"Oh, you horrid creature!" cried Mrs. Jasher indignantly, and was
about to give Braddock her opinion, if only to show him that she
could hold her own, when the door opened.

"How are you, Mrs. Jasher?" said Lucy, advancing.

"Here am I and here is Archie. Dinner is ready. And you--"