i6o GARRYOWEN 



resumed business and the ticking of the clock in 

 the corridor making answer to the rain. " Oh, 

 to-morrow! " Then she fell to thinking. What 

 was the matter with the two men? When she 

 and they were gathered together they were as 

 jolly as possible, but the instant she found herself 

 alone with one of them that one v/ilted — at least, 

 became subdued, lost his sprightliness and gaiety. 

 More than that, each, when alone with her, became, 

 if the subject turned that way, the trumpeter of 

 the other's praises. Yet when they were all to- 

 gether they would try as much as they could to 

 outshine each other, Mr French setting up his wit 

 against Mr Dashwood; Mr Dashwood retaliating. 

 Just as two male birds before a hen strut and 

 spread their tails, so these two gentlemen would 

 show off their mental feathers when together. 

 Parted, they drooped. 



A bell-man could not have told her the fact 

 that they had lost their hearts more plainly than 

 intuition stated the fact when all three together 

 at afternoon tea, just before Mr Dashwood's 

 departure for the station, that young gentleman, 

 with a plate of toast in his hand, had dallied 

 attendance upon her, whilst Mr French had urged 

 the dubious charm of crumpets. Yet, behold! 

 on the departure of the younger man, the elder had 

 presumably found his heart again, and at supper 

 had become almost tiresome in his fulsome praise 

 of Dashwood. 



It was horribly perplexing. 



