"Well, I'll have to go along now. Mighty good of you to put me on to these points."
"Don't mention it."
"Let's see—Swift, Jane Austen and Spenser are the ducks you say I ought to look up?"
"Yes; and Addison and Marlowe. And say, find out something about Wordsworth. They'll ask about his attitude toward the French Revolution, or some damfool thing like that."
"All right, I will. What was his attitude toward it?"
"I don't know. I had it all down fine once—when I took that exam. He liked it or else he didn't, I forget which. But say, you want to know a little about Dryden and Pope, too."
"Dryden and Pope. All right, I got 'em on my list. I'll be able to write three pages about both of 'em before I go to bed. So long!"
"So long!"
They parted; but the alcove was empty only three minutes. It was then occupied by a man and a woman. The woman began the conversation.
"Mrs. Brooks said I certainly ought to consult you, Mr. Wigglesworth. She said your knowledge of local history will be indispensable to us."