[Illustration:  Hart-Parr Engine, drawing Roadmaker.]

A slight diversion was caused by a repacking of some goods after lunch.  It seems that the bottles, with contents (a most important item), had been forgotten, and The Wild Man was approached with a request that the bottles might be transported to Lucero in his bag; of course, he cheerily acquiesced, but as the whole of the contents of his bag had to be turned out to pack the bottles scientifically, and as that bag happened to be the same receptacle in which The Wild Man had secreted the various articles collected during his tour of appreciation this morning, developments were interesting to all, save to the man who had laboured under the delusion that several horns and other articles which appeared from the bag, were still in his own possession.  However, probably remembering The Wild Man’s character (vide page 205), he said nothing, but calmly looked on as his goods were repacked and removed from his sight for ever.  All honour to such unselfishness.

After a cup of tea and farewells, the ladies were transferred to the coaches in a highly skilled manner, and a damp drive to Lucero followed.  One sheet of drizzling rain surrounded us all through the journey, and none were sorry when, after a side slip or two, the coaches drew up (not before it was quite dark) outside the estancia house.  A change into dry garments was very welcome, and there was to be noticed for the first time since the start of the Tacuruers, a dull air of respectability over the party, as they collected for their evening meal.

Shirt fronts and pretty frocks appeared once more, for here we had a lady presiding over the table.  Still the old proverb proved true “Fine feathers do not make fine birds,” and some members of the party did not live up to their costumes.  It may have been the good dinner, or the genial glow of a fire that upset their behaviour, but the fact remains that there were two or three unusual occurrences during the course of a merry meal.  The Kid was observed to be burying her face in a spoonful of jelly, and others seemed to be performing a sort of a general post during the repast.  However, all ended well, and after coffee various home pets were introduced by our hostess, who is a devoted lover of animals.  A nutria appeared and some friendly dogs, and we heard of tame foxes and diminutive ponies to be seen next day.  It was a great regret to everyone that The Delineator did not put in an appearance for dinner; he pleaded headache and retired to bed early, perhaps in the hope of getting some sleep before The Instigator came to share the room.

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ADVERTISEMENTS.

HARD CASE NO. 1.—­“T.K.” writes to inquire the proper procedure under the following circumstances:—­“A lady receives a plate of jelly at dinner, the gentleman on her right at once takes up her spoon and commences to feed her with the jelly.”  What should she do?  And if she allows herself to be fed, is it etiquette, this year, for the gentleman on her left to give her a slight push, which results in her nose meeting the jelly in the spoon?  We offer the problems to our readers, and a prize will be awarded for the best solution sent in.