Miss Earle, who had waited for a moment expecting that Morris would
introduce her, but seeing that he had for the time being apparently
forgotten everything on earth, quietly left them, and took her place
at the breakfast table. The blonde young lady looked up again at Mr.
Morris, and said--

"I am afraid I ana keeping you from breakfast."

"Oh, that doesn't matter."

"I am afraid, then," she continued sweetly, "that I am keeping you from
your very interesting table companion."

"Yes, that _does_ matter," said Morris, looking at her. "I wish you good
morning, madam." And with that he left her and took his place at the
head of the small table.

There was a vindictive look in the blonde young lady's pretty eyes as
she sank into her own seat at the breakfast table.

Miss Earle had noticed the depressing effect which even the sight of the
blonde lady exercised on Morris the day before, and she looked forward,
therefore, to rather an uncompanionable breakfast. She was surprised,
however, to see that Morris had an air of jaunty joviality, which she
could not help thinking was rather forced.

"Now," he said, as he sat down on the sofa at the head of the table, "I
think it's about time for us to begin our chutney fight."