Spillikins  didn't  understand  the  reference,  "and
as  we  brought  him  out  from  England  we  have
to  be  rather  careful.  With  a  good  man  like
Franklin  one  is  always  so  afraid  of  losing  him

183


Arcadian  Adventures  with  the  Idle  Rich

' — and  after  last  night  we  have  to  be  doubly
careful."

"Why  last  night?"  asked  Mr.  Spillikins.
"Oh,  it  wasn't  much,"  said  Mrs.  Newberry.
"In  fact,  it  was  merely  an  accident.  Only  it
just  chanced  that  at  dinner,  quite  late  in  the
meal,  when  we  had  had  nearly  everything  (we
dine  very  simply  here,  Mr.  Spillikins),  Mr.
Newberry,  who  was  thirsty  and  who  wasn't
really  thinking  what  he  was  saying,  asked
Franklin  to  give  him  a  glass  of  hock.  Franklin
said  at  once,  'I'm  very  sorry,  sir,  I  don't  care  to
serve  my  hock  after  the  entree  I"

"And  of  course  he  was  right,"  said  Dul-
phemia  with  emphasis.
"Exactly;  he  was  perfectly  right.  They
know,  you  know.  We  were  afraid  that  there
might  be  trouble,  but  Mr.  Newberry  went  and
saw  Franklin  afterwards  and  he  behaved  very
well  over  it.  But  suppose  we  go  and  dress?
It's  half-past  six  already  and  we've  only  an
hour."

•  •  •  •  •

In  this  congenial  company  Mr.  Spillikins
spent  the  next  three  days.
