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the terrible twins

Sir Maurice did not share their relief; he knew what was coming, knew it in the depths of his hor-
ror-stricken heart. He ground his teeth softly and glared at the piquant and glowing face of his niece as if he could have borne the earth's suddenly open-
ing and swallowing her up.

The blushing Wiggins held back a little, and kicked his left foot with his right. Then pushed forward by the eager Terror, to whom Erebus had chanted the song before lunch, he stepped forward and in his clear shrill treble, sang, slightly out of tune:

"Where did his colonel dig him up,
 So young, so fair, so sweet,
With his shining nose, and his square, square toes?
 Was it Wapping or Basinghall Street?"

As he sang Wiggins looked artlessly at Captain Baster; as he finished everybody was looking at Captain Baster's boots; his feet required them square-toed.

Captain Baster's face was a rich rose-pink; he glared round the frozen circle now trying hard not to look at his boots; he saw the faces melt into ir-
repressible smiles; he looked to Sir Maurice, the

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