'I'm really looking for Miss Fitch's nephew. I looked him up in the book and he isn't there, but I hoped he'd be here. Do you happen to know him, Mr — ?

'Grant.

'Mr Grant?

'I know him by sight, but he isn't here. Walter Whitmore, you mean? 'Yes. Whitmore. I don't know him at all, but I want very much to meet him because we have-had, I mean-a great friend in common. I was sure he'd be here. You're quite sure he isn't? After all, it's quite a party.

'He isn't in this room; I know that, because Whitmore is as tall as I am. But he may still be around somewhere. Look, you had better come and meet Miss Fitch. I suppose we can get through the barricade if we have the determination.

'You lean and I'll squirm, said the young man, referring to their respective build. 'This is very kind of you, Mr Grant, he said as they came up for air half-way, wedged tightly together between the hedged elbows and shoulders of their fellows; and he laughed up at the helpless Grant. And Grant was suddenly disconcerted. So disconcerted that he turned immediately and continued his struggle through the jungle to the clearing at the middle window where Lavinia Fitch was standing.

'Miss Fitch, he said, 'here is a young man who wants to meet you. He is trying to get in touch with your nephew.

'With Walter? said Lavinia, her peaked little face losing its muzzy expression of general benevolence and sharpening to real interest.

'My name is Searle, Miss Fitch. I'm over from the States on holiday and I wanted to meet Walter because Cooney Wiggin was a friend of mine too.

'Cooney! You are a friend of Cooney's? Oh, Walter will be delighted, my dear, simply delighted. Oh, what a nice surprise in the middle of this-I mean, so unexpected. Walter will be pleased. Searle, did you say?