" But," said Mr. Hughes, " she only cornea in as
an abstraction, so far. I can't see her carcass in
it." From which we may learn that Mr. Hughes
thought that abstract means incorpoTeal ; or, at
least, imponderable. It is a common error. " What
did you say ? " he asked.
" I said ' Suppose I ask Sairah I ' and rang for
her, for a lark. Euphemia was in an awful rage and
pretended to go, but stopped outside to listen." The
speaker's hesitation appeared to increase.
"Well — and when she came ? ..."

" Why, the stupid idiot alt<^ther misunder-
stood me. Damn fool I What the doose ehs thought
I meant, I don't know. ..."

" What did you say ? Out with it, old chap I "
Mr. Hughes seemed to be heading intense amuse-
ment back, with a knowledge that it would get the
bit in its teeth in the end.
