\"Iwonder，\"musedtheProfessor，\"ifanyoneinthevillage——\"Thelittleservingmaidflitteringamongthegooseberrybushes——shewaspretendingtobegatheringgoose—berries——caughttheProfessor’seye.
\"Wewillconsultmychatelaine，Mrs.Muldoon，\"suggestedtheProfessor.\"Ithinkweshallbeabletomanage.\"
TheProfessortenderedMalvinahisarm.WithherotherhandshegathereduptheskirtsoftheCommander’scoat.
\"Ithink，\"saidtheProfessorwithasuddeninspirationastheypassedthroughthegarden，\"IthinkIshallexplaintoMrs.Muldoonthatyouhavejustcomestraightfromafancy—dressball.\"
TheyfoundMrs.Muldooninthekitchen.AlessconvincingstorythanthatbywhichtheProfessorsoughttoaccounttoMrs.MuldoonforthehowandthewhyofMalvinaitwouldbeimpossibletoimagine.Mrs.Muldoonoutofsheerkindnessappearstohavecuthimshort.