The Mother of Ridgwell read the part describing her offspring's performance to the end, and then observed—
"Did you see, Father, that Ridgwell declares he possessed a high Order of Imagination, and then lost it?"
The Father of Ridgwell groaned.
"Lost it? Good gracious me, what nonsense, my dear; I should think myself he has just found it. I'll talk to that Writer, when I see him; he really oughtn't to be allowed about at large, any more than the Pleasant-Faced Lion. I consider the whole history of this animal most incredible."
CHAPTER XI
THE END OF THE MATTER
The family had just sat down to breakfast when the Writer arrived at
Balham in a taxi-cab, bearing two large cardboard dress-boxes with him.
Having deposited these articles, he was greeted by the family.
"Oh! you bad man," commenced the Mother of Ridgwell and Christine; "sit down and have breakfast at once before you start any more of those plausible tales of yours."
"How did you get here so early?" inquired Father.