"I am examining it," she said gravely, "and microscopically. Probably shall this afternoon."
But she didn't! No, by Jove, we were together almost all the afternoon, though we never could get away from the frump—dash it, she just took charge of us. And it was the same again in the evening. By Jove, it was disgusting—really, that's the only word to use—the way that woman assumed toward everybody the air of expect-to-be-mistress-here-some-day-and-might-as-well-begin-now!
Once she did break away from us for fifteen minutes while she went up to see how Jack was. She came back much relieved.
"He was so glad to see me," she said, "and he kissed me twice. We had such an interesting discussion about the amoeba."
"The what?" asked Frances.
"The amoeba—tiny animalcules, don't you know, that have the power of changing their form and appearance. Jacky thinks that perhaps man, too, in the process of time and evolution might scientifically acquire this—"
"How silly!" laughed my darling. And I thought so too. Of course if a man looked like himself once, he would always look like himself. Any fool knew that!
Later, the judge came to my room, accompanied by Wilkes with some Heidelberg punch, frappé.
"Couldn't leave you out of this," he said genially; "besides, wanted to toast your first night under the roof of Wolhurst!
"Hope they're making you comfortable," he went on. "Infernal shame, Lightnut, that I've had to neglect you so; so absurdly busy, you know—you understand?"