“I did not take observations of Venus first,” answered the Prophet, with a certain proud reserve. “I began by an examination into ‘The Milky Way.’”
Sir Tiglath impounded another crumpet.
“Go on, young man,” he cried. “The old astronomer lendeth ear.”
The Prophet, who felt very much like a nervous undergraduate undergoing a viva-voce examination, continued,—
“I became deeply interested, strongly attracted by the—the heavenly bodies. They fascinated me. I could think of nothing else.”
Lady Enid’s Scottish lips tightened almost imperceptibly.
“I could talk of nothing else,” proceeded the Prophet. “Could I, grannie?”
“No, indeed, Hennessey,” assented Mrs. Merillia. “All other topics were banished from discussion.”
“All,” cried the Prophet, with increasing fervour and lack of self-consciousness. “I could not tear myself from the telescope. I longed for a perpetual night and found the day almost intolerably irksome.”
Sir Tiglath’s brick-red countenance was irradiated with a smile that did not lack geniality.