elephant except when he fed it with buns at the Zoo. At last Mr.
Smith, who to Scroope's great amusement had taken the end of the table
and assumed the position of host, gave the signal to move and we
adjourned to the drawing-room.

I don't know what had happened but there we found the atmosphere
distinctly stormy. The ample Mrs. Smith sat in a chair fanning
herself, which caused the barbaric ornaments she wore to clank upon
her fat arm. Upon either side of her, pale and indeterminate, stood
Polly and Dolly each pretending to read a book. Somehow the three of
them reminded me of a coat-of-arms seen in a nightmare, British Matron
/sejant/ with Modesty and Virtue as supporters. Opposite, on the other
side of the fire and evidently very angry, stood Lady Ragnall,
/regardant/.

"Do I understand you to say, Luna," I heard Mrs. A.-S. ask in resonant
tones as I entered the room, "that you actually played the part of a
heathen goddess among these savages, clad in a transparent bed-robe?"

"Yes, Mrs. Atterby-Smith," replied Lady Ragnall, "and a nightcap of
feathers. I will put it on for you if you won't be shocked. Or perhaps
one of your daughters----"

"Oh!" said both the young ladies together, "please be quiet. Here come
the gentlemen."

After this there was a heavy silence broken only by the stifled
giggles in the background of Mrs. Scroope and the canon's fluffy-
headed wife, who to do her justice had some fun in her. Thank goodness
the evening, or rather that part of it did not last long, since