"Child," he sighed, "I am lonely still!"
"Why, then," said she in her gentlest voice, smiling down into his
wistful face, "come on up, old pal, an' forget your loneliness
awhile."
And now his lordship smiled also, and having pocketed his book,
climbed into the cart with our assistance and seated himself between
us.
"This," sighed he, as Diogenes ambled on again, "is exceedingly kind
in you, to burden yourselves thus with a solitary and garrulous old
man--"
"What's garrulous?" demanded Diana.
"Talkative, my child, excessive verbosity--Mr. Vereker will doubtless
remember our conversation on music," said he, with a whimsical glance
at me.
"Indeed, yes, sir," I answered. "I was greatly interested."
"Well, I like to hear you talk, too," said Diana, "you speaks like
Peregrine does, only he says such silly things, and he's a great deal
too cocksure of himself into the bargain!"
"Concerning which," said his lordship gently, "you may have remarked
that Mr. Vereker possesses a chin."
"What's his chin to do with it? You've got one--so have I for that
matter."
"True, child, we all three possess chins that typify dogged resolution
to a remarkable degree--"
"Peregrine's hatefully dogged; I know that!" sighed Diana.
"Excellent youth!" nodded our aged companion, regarding me with
twinkling eyes.
"And Diana is excessively and unreasonably illogical!" I retorted.
"Adorable maiden!" sighed his lordship, glancing at Diana.
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