But I don't quite know what we ought to
do.''
``You might put a barbed wire entanglement round the yew
tree as a precautionary measure,'' said Clovis.
``I don't think that the disagreeable situation that has
arisen is improved by flippancy,'' said Mrs. Riversedge; ``a
good maid is a treasure---''
``I am sure I don't know what I should do without
Florinda,'' admitted Mrs. Troyle; ``she understands my hair.
I've long ago given up trying to do anything with it myself.
I regard one's hair as I regard husbands: as long as one is
seen together in public one's private divergences don't
matter. Surely that was the luncheon gong.''
Septimus Brope and Clovis had the smoking-room to
themselves after lunch. The former seemed restless and
preoccupied, the latter quietly observant.
``What is a lorry?'' asked Septimus suddenly; ``I don't
mean the thing on wheels, of course I know what that is, but
isn't there a bird with a name like that, the larger form of
a lorikeet?''
``I fancy it's a lory, with one `r,' '' said Clovis
lazily, ``in which case it's no good to you.''
Septimus Brope stared in some astonishment.
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