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Show "' ®II:> llose ani:> $illler 1\Jiuncb might be a row, and anyway, it's a man's job." ot'llowcrt He came home about dusk \\ ith several packages, one of which he carefully concealed under a pile of leaves in the fenc~ corner, just inside the yard. He could easily reach through the palings and lift it over the fence as he passed. . . Juliet admired the cards, was delighted w1th a box of chocolates and two new novels, and condescended to approve of Romeo's new red tie. He had gloves in his pocket, but feared to show them to her, gloves being her pet object of scorn. After they had cleared off the table, Romeo strolled over to the window. Five of the dogs were gathered about some small object and the yard was littered with bits of white. Under his breath Romeo said something that sounded like profanity, and Juliet pricked up her ears. "What's the matter?" she demanded. "I broug~t home some flowers," explained Romeo, carefully, for it was written in the covenant that the twins should never, under any circumstances, lie to each other, "and I must have dropped 'em. The dogs have torn 'em to pieces, box and all." Juliet clapped her hands gleefully. "I'm glad of it!" "Why?" he asked quickly, with an uneasy sense that she was a mind-reader. :a llmigbt•.Errant ·• Because we've got so many dogs." Romeo chose to take offence at the innocent remark and relapsed into gloomy silence. Disdaining to speak, Juliet curled up on the decrepit sofa with a book and the chocolates, and presently went to sleep. "Fortune favours the brave," he quoted to himself, as he tiptoed into the kitchen, cautiously closing the door. A subtle perfume filled the room and he sniffed appreciatively. An open bottle of vanilla extract stood on .the kitchen table, where a pan of fudges was coohng. marked off into neat squares. He wrapped the pan in a newspaper, anointed his handkerchief liberally with the fragrant extract, and softly stole out into the night. The dogs followed him to the back fence, but did not bark. Only a few soft whines followed him as he sped down the road, thrilled with a sense of adventure and romance. If Juliet should happen to wake, she would think he had gone away because he was angry, and never need know that like some misunderstood knight of old, he was merely upon an errand of chivalry for her. The fudges would do as well as the calla lilies, probably, though he felt instinctively that they were not quite as elegant. It was a long way to Madame Bernard's, and Juliet's knight-errant was weary, after .an exhausting day in town. He paused outstde "3 ,fortune J'a"OOur• tbt :lira" |
