The Mayor left just as Hanky was coming towards her. "This, Mayoress,"
he said with some asperity, "is a very serious business. It has ruined
my collection. Half the people left the temple without giving anything
at all. You seem," he added in a tone the significance of which could
not be mistaken, "to be very fond, Mayoress, of this Mr. Higgs."
"Yes," said Yram, "I am; I always liked him, and I am sorry for him; but
he is not the person I am most sorry for at this moment--he, poor man, is
not going to be horsewhipped within the next twenty minutes." And she
spoke the "he" in italics.
"I do not understand you, Mayoress."
"My husband will explain, as soon as I have seen him."
"Hanky," said Panky, "you must withdraw, and apologise at once."
Hanky was not slow to do this, and when he had disavowed everything,
withdrawn everything, apologised for everything, and eaten humble pie to
Yram's satisfaction, she smiled graciously, and held out her hand, which
Hanky was obliged to take.
"And now, Professor," she said, "let me return to your remark that this
is a very serious business, and let me also claim a woman's privilege of
being listened to whenever she chooses to speak. I propose, then, that
we say nothing further about this matter till after luncheon. I have
asked Dr.
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