Before Miss Kybird could deny all knowledge of the article in question her sorely tried swain created a diversion by rising.  To that simple act he imparted an emphasis which commanded the attention of both beholders, and, drawing over to Miss Kybird, he stood over her in an attitude at once terrifying and reproachful.

“Take your choice, Amelia,” he said, in a thrilling voice.  “Me or ’im—­ which is it to be?”

[Illustration:  “Me or ’im—­which is it to be?”]

“Here, steady, old man,” cried the startled Nugent.  “Go easy.”

“Me or ’im?” repeated Mr. Silk, in stern but broken accents.

Miss Kybird giggled and, avoiding his gaze, looked pensively at the faded hearthrug.

“You’re making her blush,” said Mr. Nugent, sternly.  “Sit down, Teddy; I’m ashamed of you.  We’re both ashamed of you.  You’re confusing us dreadfully proposing to us both in this way.”

Mr. Silk regarded him with a scornful eye, but Miss Kybird, bidding him not to be foolish, punctuated her remarks with the needle, and a struggle, which Mr. Silk regarded as unseemly in the highest degree, took place between them for its possession.

Mr. Nugent secured it at last, and brandishing it fiercely extorted feminine screams from Miss Kybird by threatening her with it.  Nor was her mind relieved until Mr. Nugent, remarking that he would put it back in the pincushion, placed it in the leg of Mr. Edward Silk.

Mr. Kybird and his wife, entering through the shop, were just in time to witness a spirited performance on the part of Mr. Silk, the cherished purpose of which was to deprive them of a lodger.  He drew back as they entered and, raising his voice above Miss Kybird’s, began to explain his action.

“Teddy, I’m ashamed of you,” said Mr. Kybird, shaking his head.  “A little joke like that; a little innercent joke.”

“If it ’ad been a darning-needle now—­” began Mrs. Kybird.

“All right,” said the desperate Mr. Silk, “’ave it your own way.  Let ’Melia marry ’im—­I don’t care—–­I give ’er up.”

“Teddy!” said Mr. Kybird, in a shocked voice.  “Teddy!”

Mr. Silk thrust him fiercely to one side and passed raging through the shop.  The sound of articles falling in all directions attested to his blind haste, and the force with which he slammed the shop-door was sufficient evidence of his state of mind.

“Well, upon my word,” said the staring Mr. Kybird; “of all the outrageyous—­”

“Never mind ’im,” said his wife, who was sitting in the easy chair, distributing affectionate smiles between her daughter and the startled Mr. Nugent.  “Make ’er happy, Jack, that’s all I arsk.  She’s been a good gal, and she’ll make a good wife.  I’ve seen how it was between you for some time.”

“So ’ave I,” said Mr. Kybird.  He shook hands warmly with Mr. Nugent, and, patting that perturbed man on the back, surveyed him with eyes glistening with approval.