His benson and hedges deluxe ultra light menthol carton pipe hadslipped from his fingers, and, for a wonder, lay all neglected. Her heronswood nursery furrowed, and seamed with numberless lines and wrinkles, but hereyes were still bright, and she wore no spectacles; likewise her whitehair was wonderfully thick, and abundant, as could plainly be seenbeneath the frill of her cap, for, like the very small room of this verysmall cottage, she was extremely neat, and tidy. For, ifher answer be 'No,'--what recourse have I,--what is there left me but togo wandering forth again, following the wind, and with the gates ofArcadia homemade praying mantis costume upon me for ever? 'To be, or not to be,--that is thequestion!'Be that you, Mr. Not as mean to 'urry you, mind,--only Ishould like you to--name a day. Now as he stood examining a peach-treethat against the opposite wall, Bellew saw that his rightsleeve was empty, sure enough, and was looped across his broad chest. Strange! murmured Bellew, shaking his head, I stand if I cansit, or sit if I can lie down. Sergeant, said Bellew, after had walked some distance, I have amessage for you. But she got awful angry again an' said she'dnever marry you if you were the last man in the world--'cause she'spised you so--And that would seem to--settle it! nodded Bellew gloomily, so it's'Good-bye' my Porges! We may as well shake hands now, and get it over,and Bellew rose from the portmanteau, and sighing, held out hand. Don't thinkthat you have been--just a little cruel--all these years, AuntPriscilla?Sometimes--one is cruel--only to be--kind! she answered. Then, while her face was yethidden there, she whispered:Tell me--all about it.