Mrs. Gallilee was becoming impatient to hear more of herself. "We may,
I think, pass over that," she suggested, "and get to the part of it
which relates to Carmina and me. Don't think I am impatient; I am only
desirous--"

The growling of a dog in the conservatory interrupted her. "That
tiresome creature!" she said sharply; "I shall be obliged to get rid of
him!"

Mr. Mool volunteered to drive the dog out of the conservatory. Mrs.
Gallilee, as irritable as ever, stopped him at the door.

"Don't, Mr. Mool! That dog's temper is not to be trusted. He shows it
with Miss Minerva, my governess--growls just in that way whenever he
sees her. I dare say he smells you. There! Now he barks! You are only
making him worse. Come back!"

Being at the door, gentle Mr. Mool tried the ferns as peace-makers once
more. He gathered a leaf, and returned to his place in a state of meek
admiration. "The flowering fern!" he said softly.

"A really fine specimen, Mrs. Gallilee, of the Osmunda Regalis. What a
world of beauty in this bipinnate frond! One hardly knows where the
stalk ends and the leaf begins!"

The dog, a bright little terrier, came trotting into the library He
saluted the company briskly with his tail, not excepting Mr. Mool. No
growl, or approach to a growl, now escaped him. The manner in which he
laid himself down at Mrs. Gallilee's feet completely refuted her