"So did I," said George. "Whatever can it be?"
"Perhaps it's a cat," ventured Miss Perkins.
"Sounded just like a cat to me," said George.
Miss Perkins lifted up a corner of the tablecloth, and knelt on the floor to peer under the table. George lifted up another corner, and knelt beside her. Together they looked underneath, and all that Parrott heard were muffled voices and a little giggle from his fiancée.
When they both rose, very red in the face, Miss Perkins cried "oh!" and it was then seen that George's watch chain had become entangled in the lace of her sleeve. When Miss Perkins tried to undo it her head came very near to George Early's, and Parrott gnashed his teeth. Only the thoughts of absolute disgrace kept him in his narrow cell.
"What a good thing he isn't here to see this!" breathed George.
"It was your fault," said Miss Perkins, stifling a laugh; "your——"
"Listen," said George. "I heard it again."
They listened, but there was no sound.
"Perhaps it's under the table, after all," said the young man artfully. "I only looked in one corner."