CHAPTER XIV

atcall?”saidhe,staringasifherquestionhadbeenafoolishone,afavouritedeviceofthoseinmid-stream. “Thisafternooncall.” “Intheafternoon,ofcourse!”hereplied,andlookedatTibbytoseehowthereparteewent.ButTibbywasunsympathetic,andsaid,“SaturdayafternoonorSundayafternoon?” “S—Saturday.” “Really!”saidHelen“andyouwerestillcallingonSunday,whenyourwifecamehere.Alongvisit.” “Idon’tcallthatfair,”saidMr.Bast,goingscarletandhandsome.Therewasfightinhiseyes.“Iknowwhatyoumean,anditisn’tso.” “Oh,don’tletusmind,”saidMargaret,distressedagainbyodoursfromtheabyss. “Itwassomethingelse,”heasserted,hiselaboratemannerbreakingdown.“Iwassomewhereelsetowhatyouthink,sothere!” “Itwasgoodofyoutocomeandexplain,”shesaid.“Therestisnaturallynoconcernofours.” “Yes,butIwant—Iwanted—haveyoueverreadTheOrdealofRichardFeverel?” Margaretnodded. “It’sabeautifulbook.Iwantedtogetbacktotheearth,don’tyousee,likeRicharddoesintheend.OrhaveyoueverreadStevenson’sPrinceOtto?” HelenandTibbygroanedgently. “That’sanotherbeautifulbook.Yougetbacktotheearthinthat.Iwanted—”Hemouthedaffectedly.Thenthroughthemistsofhisculturecameahardfact,hardasapebble.“IwalkedalltheSaturdaynight,”saidLeonard.“Iwalked.”Athrillofapprovalranthroughthesisters.Butcultureclosedinagain.HeaskedwhethertheyhadeverreadE.V.Lucas’sOpenRoad. SaidHelen,“Nodoubtit’sanotherbeautifulbook,butI’dratherhearaboutyourroad.” “Oh,Iwalked.” “Howfar?” “Idon’tknow,norforhowlong.Itgottoodarktoseemywatch.” “Wereyouwalkingalone,mayIask?” “Yes,”hesaid,straighteninghimself“butwe’dbeentalkingitoverattheoffice.There’sbeenalotoftalkattheofficelatelyaboutthesethings.ThefellowstheresaidonesteersbythePoleStar,andIlookeditupinthecelestialatlas,butonceoutofdoorseverythinggetssomixed.” “Don’ttalktomeaboutthePoleStar,”interruptedHelen,whowasbecominginterested.“Iknowitslittleways.Itgoesroundandround,andyougoroundafterit.” “Well,Ilostitentirely.Firstofallthestreetlamps,thenthetrees,andtowardsmorningitgotcloudy.” Tibby,whopreferredhiscomedyundiluted,slippedfromtheroom.Heknewthatthisfellowwouldneverattaintopoetry,anddidnotwanttohearhimtrying. MargaretandHelenremained.Theirbrotherinfluencedthemmorethantheyknewinhisabsencetheywerestirredtoenthusiasmmoreeasily. “Wheredidyoustartfrom?”criedMargaret.“Dotellusmore.” “ItooktheUndergroundtoWimbledon.AsIcameoutoftheofficeIsaidtomyself,‘Imusthaveawalkonceinaway.IfIdon’ttakethiswalknow,Ishallnevertakeit.’IhadabitofdinneratWimbledon,andthen—” “Butnotgoodcountrythere,isit?” “Itwasgas-lampsforhours.Still,Ihadallthenight,andbeingoutwasthegreatthing.Ididgetintowoods,too,presently.” “Yes,goon,”saidHelen. “You’venoideahowdifficultunevengroundiswhenit’sdark.” “Didyouactuallygoofftheroads?” “Ohyes.Ialwaysmeanttogoofftheroads,buttheworstofitisthatit’smoredifficulttofindone’sway.” “Mr.Bast,you’reabornadventurer,”laughedMargaret.“Noprofessionalathletewouldhaveattemptedwhatyou’vedone.It’sawonderyourwalkdidn’tendinabrokenneck.Whateverdidyourwifesay?” “Professionalathletesnevermovewithoutlanternsandcompasses,”saidHelen.“Besides,theycan’twalk.Ittiresthem.Goon.” “IfeltlikeR.L.S.Youprobablyrem