[Illustration: HE STAGGERED BACK AGAINST THE WATER-BUTT.]
Eliza did not know what there was to stop him. So she did as she was told, and stood invisible and silent, save for a sort of blowing, snorting noise peculiar to her when she was out of breath.
The mustard-coloured young man had recovered his balance, and stood looking at the children with eyes, if possible, rounder than before.
"What _is_ it?" he gasped feebly. "What's up? What's it all about?"
"If you don't know, I'm afraid we can't tell you," said Gerald politely.
"Have I been talking very strange-like?" he asked, taking off his hat and passing his hand over his forehead.
"I hope I haven't said anything that wasn't good manners," he said anxiously.
"Not at all," said Kathleen. "You only said your _fiancée_ had hold of your hand, and that you couldn't see her."
"But I couldn't have dreamed it, and then come along here making a penny show of myself like this, could I?"
"You know best," said Gerald courteously.
"But," the mustard-coloured victim almost screamed, "do you mean to tell me...."
"I don't mean to tell you anything," said Gerald quite truly, "but I'll give you a bit of advice. You go home and lie down a bit and put a wet rag on your head. You'll be all right to-morrow."
"_I_ should," said Mabel; "the sun's very hot, you know."
"I feel all right now," he said, "but--well, I can only say I'm sorry, that's all I can say. I've never been taken like this before, miss. I'm not subject to it--don't you think that. But I could have sworn Eliza---- Aint she gone out to meet me?"
"Eliza's indoors," said Mabel. "She can't come out to meet anybody to-day."
"You won't tell her about me carrying on this way, will you, miss? It might set her against me if she thought I was liable to fits, which I never was from a child."
"We won't tell Eliza anything about you."
"Of course. We know you couldn't help it," said Kathleen. "You go home and lie down. I'm sure you must need it. Good-afternoon."
"Good-afternoon, I'm sure, miss," he said dreamily. "All the same I can feel the print of her finger-bones on my hand while I'm saying it. And you won't let it get round to my boss--my employer I mean? Fits of all sorts are against a man in any trade."