"How dare you let off fireworks in this park?" she said, in a
voice like clotted cream.

I rose in some confusion.

"Go directly," she said, "or I'll report you and have you
summonsed!"

"I have only two more crackers and this volcano," I said
protestingly. "Surely you would not mind----"

"Don't be insolent," she said, "or I shall have no compunction in
setting my dog on you."

I looked down, and there, sure enough, rolling a yellow eye and
showing his fangs at me, was a sort of Uncle Tom's Cabin
bloodhound only waiting to begin.

"The fact is," I said, speaking slowly, so as to emphasise the
fact that I was a gentleman, "I am an American; to-day is our
national holiday; and we make it everywhere our practice to
celebrate it with fireworks. I would have done so in the road, but
the island seemed so crowded this morning I couldn't find an
undisturbed place outside the park."

Beauty was obviously mollified by my tone and respectful address.

"Please leave the park directly," she said.

I put the crackers in my pocket, took up my hat, placed the Haetna