“Go up, thou bald-head,” he called out at once; “I will make no terms with the destroyer of justice and humanity.”

“All right, my dear sir,” replied the head.

“Will you let my daughter speak to you?”

“Prussian blasphemer,” responded Mr. Lavender, shifting his position so as to be further away, and clasping instead of the table leg some soft silken objects, which he was too excited to associate with Aurora, “you have no daughter, for no woman would own one whose hated presence poisons this country.”

“Well, well,” said the Major.  “How shall we get him out?”

Hearing these words, and believing them addressed to a Prussian guard, Mr. Lavender clung closer to the objects, but finding them wriggle in his clasp let go, and, bolting forward like a rabbit on his hands and knees, came into contact with the Major’s head.  The sound of the concussion, the Major’s oaths, Mr. Lavender’s moans, Blink’s barking, and the peals of laughter from Aurora made up a noise which might have been heard in Portugal.  The situation was not eased until Mr. Lavender crawled out, and taking up a dinner-knife, rolled his napkin round his arm, and prepared to defend himself against the German Army.

“Well, I’m damned,” said the Major when he saw these preparations; “I am damned.”

Aurora, who had been leaning against the wall from laughter, here came forward, gasping: 

“Go away, Dad, and leave him to me.”

“To you!” cried the Major.  “He’s not safe!”

“Oh yes, he is; it’s only you that are exciting him.  Come along!”

And taking her father by the arm she conducted him from the room.  Closing the door behind him, and putting her back against it, she said, gently: 

“Dear Don Pickwixote, all danger is past.  The enemy has been repulsed, and we are alone in safety.  Ha, ha, ha!”

Her voice recalled.  Mr. Lavender from his strange hallucination.  “What?” he said weakly.

“Why?  Who?  Where?  When?”

“You have been dreaming again.  Let me take you home, and tuck you into bed.”  And taking from him the knife and napkin, she opened the French-window, and passed out on to the lawn.

Lavender, who now that his reason had come back, would have followed her to the death, passed out also, accompanied by Blink, and watched by the Major, who had put his head in again at the door.  Unfortunately, the spirit moved Mr. Lavender to turn round at this moment, and seeing the head he cried out in a loud voice: 

“He is there!  He is there!  Arch enemy of mankind!  Let me go and die under his jackboot, for never over my living body shall he rule this land.”  And the infatuated gentleman would certainly have rushed at his host had not Aurora stayed him by the slack of his nether garments.  The Major withdrawing his head, Mr. Lavender’s excitement again passed from him, and he suffered himself to be led dazedly away and committed to the charge of Mrs. Petty and Joe, who did not leave him till he was in bed with a strong bromide to keep him company.