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selection and rejection to the utmost。 Bertie's
preferences did not greatly matter； he was of the sort
who can be stolidly happy with any kind of wife； he had
cheerfully put up with his grandmother all his life； so
was not likely to fret and fume over anything that might
befall him in the way of a helpmate。
The party that gathered under Teresa's roof in
Christmas week of the year nineteen…hundred…and…something
was of smaller proportions than usual； and Mrs。 Yonelet；
who formed one of the party； was inclined to deduce
hopeful augury from this circumstance。 Dora Yonelet and
Bertie were so obviously made for one another； she
confided to the vicar's wife； and if the old lady were
accustomed to seeing them about a lot together she might
adopt the view that they would make a suitable married
couple。
〃People soon get used to an idea if it is dangled
constantly before their eyes；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet
hopefully； 〃and the more often Teresa sees those young
people together； happy in each other's company； the more
she will get to take a kindly interest in Dora as a
possible and desirable wife for Bertie。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the vicar's wife resignedly； 〃my own
Sybil was thrown together with Bertie under the most
romantic circumstances … I'll tell you about it some day
… but it made no impression whatever on Teresa； she put
her foot down in the most uncompromising fashion； and
Sybil married an Indian civilian。〃
〃Quite right of her；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet with vague
approval； 〃it's what any girl of spirit would have done。
Still； that was a year or two ago； I believe； Bertie is
older now； and so is Teresa。 Naturally she must be
anxious to see him settled。〃
The vicar's wife reflected that Teresa seemed to be
the one person who showed no immediate anxiety to supply
Bertie with a wife； but she kept the thought to herself。
Mrs。 Yonelet was a woman of resourceful energy and
generalship； she involved the other members of the house…
party； the deadweight； so to speak； in all manner of
exercises and occupations that segregated them from
Bertie and Dora； who were left to their own devisings …
that is to say； to Dora's devisings and Bertie's
accommodating acquiescence。 Dora helped in the Christmas
decorations of the parish church； and Bertie helped her
to help。 Together they fed the swans； till the birds
went on a dyspepsia…strike； together they played
billiards； together they photographed the village
almshouses； and； at a respectful distance； the tame elk
that browsed in solitary aloofness in the park。 It was
〃tame〃 in the sense that it had long ago discarded the
least vestige of fear of the human race； nothing in its
record encouraged its human neighbours to feel a
reciprocal confidence。
Whatever sport or exercise or occupation Bertie and
Dora indulged in together was unfailingly chronicled and
advertised by Mrs。 Yonelet for the due enlightenment of
Bertie's grandmother。
〃Those two inseparables have just come in from a
bicycle ride；〃 she would announce； 〃quite a picture they
make； so fresh and glowing after their spin。〃
〃A picture needing words；〃 would be Teresa's private
comment； and as far as Bertie was concerned she was
determined that the words should remain unspoken。
On the afternoon after Christmas Day Mrs。 Yonelet
dashed into the drawing…room； where her hostess was
sitting amid a circle of guests and teacups and muffin…
dishes。 Fate had placed what seemed like a trump…card in
the hands of the patiently…manoeuvring mother。 With eyes
blazing with excitement and a voice heavily escorted with
exclamation marks she made a dramatic announcement。
〃Bertie has saved Dora from the elk！〃
In swift； excited sentences； broken with maternal
emotion； she gave supplementary information as to how the
treacherous animal had ambushed Dora as she was hunting
for a strayed golf ball； and how Bertie had dashed to her
rescue with a stable fork and driven the beast off in the
nick of time。
〃It was touch and go！ She threw her niblick at it；
but that didn't stop it。 In another moment she would
have been crushed beneath its hoofs；〃 panted Mrs。
Yonelet。
〃The animal is not safe；〃 said Teresa； handing her
agitated guest a cup of tea。 〃I forget if you take
sugar。 I suppose the solitary life it leads has soured
its temper。 There are muffins in the grate。 It's not my
fault； I've tried to get it a mate for ever so long。 You
don't know of anyone with a lady elk for sale or
exchange； do you？〃 she asked the company generally。
But Mrs。 Yonelet was in no humour to listen to talk
of elk marriages。 The mating of two human beings was the
subject uppermost in her mind； and the opportunity for
advancing her pet project was too valuable to be
neglected。
〃Teresa；〃 she exclaimed impressively； 〃after those
two young people have been thrown together so
dramatically； nothing can be quite the same again between
them。 Bertie has done more than save Dora's life； he has
earned her affection。 One cannot help feeling that Fate
has consecrated them for one another。〃
〃Exactly what the vicar's wife said when Bertie
saved Sybil from the elk a year or two ago；〃 observed
Teresa placidly； 〃I pointed out to her that he had
rescued Mirabel Hicks from the same predicement a few
months previously； and that priority really belonged to
the gardener's boy； who had been rescued in the January
of that year。 There is a good deal of sameness in
country life； you know。〃
〃It seems to be a very dangerous animal；〃 said one
of the guests。
〃That's what the mother of the gardener's boy said；〃
remarked Teresa； 〃she wanted me to have it destroyed； but
I pointed out to her that she had eleven children and I
had only one elk。 I also gave her a black silk skirt；
she said that though there hadn't been a funeral in her
family she felt as if there had been。 Anyhow； we parted
friends。 I can't offer you a silk skirt； Emily； but you
may have another cup of tea。 As I have already remarked；
there are muffins in the grate。〃
Teresa dosed the discussion； having deftly conveyed
the impression that she considered the mother of the
gardener's boy had shown a far more reasonable spirit
than the parents of other elk…assaulted victims。
〃Teresa is devoid of feeling；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet
afterwards to the vicar's wife； 〃to sit there； talking of
muffins； with an appalling tragedy only narrowly averted
… 〃
〃Of course you know whom she really intends Bertie
to marry？〃 asked the vicar's wife； 〃I've noticed it for
some time。 The Bickelbys' German governess。〃
〃A German governess！ What an idea！〃 gasped Mrs。
Yonelet。
〃She's of quite good family； I believe；〃 said the
vicar's wife； 〃and not at all the mouse…in…the…back…
ground sort of person that governe