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Pratt glowered at hilance "You look as if you'd been drawn through a knot-hole What happened to you?" As Clarke did not reply to this he took another line of inquiry "About this sitting, as the upshot?"

"It was a very re, and seemed to make a profound impression The conditions were severe--"

"Why was I left out? That's what I want to know"

"That's what puzzles me McLeod, who promised us never to have a circle without you, insisted on the sitting there--"

"How do you know he did? Did he write or speak to you?"

"No--he iirl in such a house Did you talk with Weiss the committee?"

"Yes, but"--he hesitated--"they both insisted that if they took the matter up both of us must be excluded"

Pratt bristled "And you consented to that?"

"I did not I insisted that the sittings take place here and that we be present They would not listen to that, so I think I'll go ahead on ramme and decide upon the personnel of the coarded hira it over lately, and I've just about coe"

"Why not?"

Pratt snapped like a peevish bull-dog "Because I don't want it done--that's all the reason you need I've never made any concessions to reach these dain now You are planning to involve us in a whole lot of noise and sensation, and I don't like it Furthermore, I don't intend to submit to it"

Clarke was too irritable to take this quietly, and his eyes blazed "You're very sensitive all at once When did you reach this new point of view?"

"Never you mind about that; I've reached it, and I intend to maintain it Why, you simple-minded jackass, these scientists will eat you up They'll irl They'll pretend to expose her--the press will be on their side--and I will be ibes I won't have it!"

"You're too nervous about the press," replied Clarke, loftily "You're all wrong about the papers They'll take aat the scientists as 'theat us, of course, but it won't hurt"

"Oh, it won't! Well, itfor you--but I don't need that kind of publicity That's settled! Now, about this man Serviss"--he turned to Mrs Lambert--"is he married?"