Scharde threw his arms into the air.

"Upon this note I retire from the field!"

After breakfast Glawen telephoned Veder House and told Sessily of his various misfortunes.

Sessily was properly sympathetic.

"You must patrol with Kirdy? What a bore!"

"I'm afraid so! Even though the fellow means well. But he's only the tip of the iceberg. According to the schedule, we'll be patrolling Smollen evening during the Mummers spectacle, and I won't see you in your wings!"

"Ha! Maybe that's just as well, since I'm not sure that the joints will last out the performance."

"That's not all. Today my unknown guests arrive from Stroma, and I must keep them well-fed and jolly all during Parilia."

^"That sounds rather exciting!"

""Exciting' is not the word I would use. I expect a pair of hearty red-cheeked Naturalists, very tall, with booming voices, smelling of fish and oiled leather and turpentine."

"Oh, come, now! The Naturalists I've seen were never like that."

"It's just my luck to get such a pair."

"Feed them well on lots of plain wholesome food and take them for long runs up and down the beach. But I'm sure it won't be as bad as you fear. What are their names?"

"Milo and Wayness Tamm."

"They might be entertaining and clever, so that you enjoy their company. I wouldn't give up hope just yet."

"Hmmf," said Glawen.

"You show great courage in the face of my forthcoming agonies."

"I have problems of my own. Floreste has been absolutely vexing. ', He makes all kinds of demands on me and every ten minutes changes the program. Now I'm to play two nights in the trio and I don't know the tunes, and out of sheer caprice he's just rearranged all the routines for Milden night. In this case, I'm thankful. Floreste plans a short comic pastiche of six nymphs teasing Latuun the satyr, who of course will be Namour."

"I didn't know that Namour had any interest in Mummery!"

"He doesn't really. He just likes to handle the nymphs, and his costume gives him scope for naughtiness. He's been more familiar with me than I like and he's even made some quiet suggestions. I told Floreste that I couldn't play in the trio and be a nymph at the same time, so he excused me, and put Drusilla in my place."

"Who is Drusilla?"

"Drusilla co-Laverty. She's somewhat older than we are, and works in the hotel."

"Now I know who you mean. Isn't she a tri He overblown for the part?"

"I care not at all. I'm having enough trouble learning to use four butterfly wings in the proper rhythm. I've learned a great new respect for the insects who do it all so easily."

During the evening Glawen telephoned Sessily.

"Glawen here."

"Oh! I've been wondering about you all day. What's been going on?"

Glawen thought that Sessily sounded tired and a trifle dispirited.

He said: "Nothing much. Just my official dudes."

"You sound suspiciously jaunty."

"That's due to some marvelous good luck. I've been relieved from the patrol, so that I can give full attention to our visitors. Guess who has been assigned to fill the vacancy."

"Namour? Chiike? Floreste?"

"Good guesses, but all wrong. The fortunate fellow is Aries.

There was quite an uproar when Aries heard the news. He was in top form. Spanchetta also had some remarks to make."

"It sounds like a lively affair."

"But all for naught. Tonight Kirdy and Aries trudge through the dark, entertaining each other with Bold Lion stories."

"In Bold Lion costume, I suppose?"

"No chance! What would the Yips think to see a pair of Bold Lions slinking around their fence?"

"I suspect that they'd run to guard their womenfolk."

"Ha! In any event, Aries and Kirdy must turn out in regulation Bureau B gear."

"Well, that's good news for you. By this time you're on easy terms with your guests?"

Glawen said cautiously: "We're still a bit formal, although I've lost my fear of them."

"Wayness is not seven feet tall and does not smell of fish after all?"

"That was just a joke. She is quite normal, and has no perceptible odor."

"And she's amazingly pretty? So that I seem just a tired old bundle of junk?"

"What foolishness! You're the prettiest bundle of junk I've ever seen!"

"Glawen! Should I take that as a compliment? I can't quite figure it out."

"I intended a compliment. What are you doing?"

"Better to ask what should I be doing, which is practicing my parts. But tell me more about your guests. Are they lofty or difficult?"

"Not at all! They're quite agreeable, and very well-mannered."