"Oh, I don't know. She reads 'Women of the Renaissance' and things like that. I tried to read some of hers, and I told her I didn't like them. She said I couldn't expect to, because I haven't any foundation. How do you get a foundation—that's what I'd like to know! Aunt Ella is perfectly dippy on Italian art. Gracious, is that clock right? It's nearly three, and I haven't done any improving reading."
"Look here, it's a corking afternoon—you don't want to waste it in this joint. Let's go down to the boathouse and get my canoe."
"I'd like to. But what will I say to Aunt Ella?"
"Oh, we'll take some book with us, and you can read while I paddle. What's that one on that shelf?—it looks dry as the deuce. Here you are, just the thing:—'Notes on the Architectural Antiquities of the District of Gower in Glamorganshire'—that would make a hit with Aunt Ella, all right!"
"It doesn't sound very interesting."
"You're right, there. Well, how will this one do? 'The Recently Discovered Cromlech near Is-sur-Tille.'"
"What on earth is a cromlech?"
"You can search me."
"Let's take them both. I'll get them charged at the desk, and meet you outside. I'll read you all about the cromlech—if there are any words in the book I can pronounce."
With this they went out, and I endeavored to take up my work. Before I could make the slightest progress, however, two more persons entered the alcove. These, to judge from the conversation, were small boys. I had to sit and listen to this chatter: