Jill renewed her appeal.

Above the little spirit lamp which she was holding hovered a tiny flame, seemingly so sensitive that a rough word would quench it for ever.  When I had kissed my cousin, I blew steadily and fiercely from the south-west.  Instantly a large tongue of fire flared half-way to where Jonah was eating his porridge and knitting his brows over The Times.

Jill’s hand began to shake.

“You wicked child,” said I.  “You knew——­”

“Oh, Boy, but it’s so silly.  We had to leave it for you.  Jonah nearly burst himself just now, trying.”

“Thing’s bewitched,” said Jonah calmly.  “The more air you give it, the fiercer it burns.  I’d sooner try to blow out a hurricane lamp.”

“Nonsense,” said I, taking a deep breath.

At the end of the round—­

“Yes,” said Jonah.  “Do you mind blowing the other way next time?  It’s not my face I’m worrying about, but this is the only copy of The Times in the house.”

Jill was helpless with laughter, so I took the lamp away from her and advanced to the fireplace.

“I’ll fix the swine,” I said savagely.

Two minutes later, with a blast that almost blew the lamp out of my hand, the flame was extinguished in a flurry that would have done credit to a whale.  As I straightened my back—­

“Well done, Boy,” said Jill.  “There’s a letter for you from Berry.  Do see what he says.  Then I’ll read you Daphne’s.”

“Read hers first,” said I.  “Strange as it may seem, I entered this room to eat.”

“Right oh!” And in her fresh little voice my cousin began to read.

JILL DARLING,

The sooner you all come up the better.  Everything’s ready and Berry’s more than I can manage alone.  His shoulder was aching last night, but when I wanted to rub him he said he was a kind of Aladdin’s lamp, and wouldn’t be responsible if I did.  “Supposing a genie appeared and formed fours, or the slop-pail rotted aside, disclosing a flight of steps.”  Result, to-day in Bond Street he turned suddenly to look at a passing car, and had a seizure.  He just gave a yell as if he’d been shot, and then stood stock still with his head all on one side.  Of course I was horrified, but he said he was quite all right, and explained that it was muscular rheumatism.  I stopped a taxi and tried to make him get in, for people were beginning to look.  Do you think he would?  Not a bit of it.  Stood there and said it was a judgment, and that he must stay where he was till it had passed.  “That may not be for years.  They’ll put railings round me after a bit, and people will meet at me instead of the Tube.  You will be responsible for my meals, some of which you will cook on the spot.  I’ll have a light lunch to-day about 1300 hours.”  One or two people stopped, and I got into a taxi just as a man asked him if he was ill.  “Brother,” said the fool, “my blood tests are more than