Jim reassured her in a hoarse grunt. "It 's all right, Mum, I 've
emptied her."
The lamplighter put out the lower lamp.
"What are you doing that for?" cried Jack.
The lamplighter pointing over his shoulder, replied laconically, "Moon!"
and ran off.
Sir Peter was just about to apply a lighted candle to the touch-hole of
the gun, when Mr. Jerome Brooke-Hoskyn, much dishevelled, threw open his
window, and cried in a horrified whisper, "Sir Peter! Sir Peter!--For
Heaven's sake, don't fire that gun!"
"Why the devil not, sir?" roared Sir Peter, angrily.
"Sh!" cried Mr. Brooke-Hoskyn, waving a frantic hand. "_It's a boy!_"
"Gobblessmysoul!" cried Sir Peter, "I'll be godfather!"
And all the Walk was delighted, and the leaves of the elm clapped their
hands together in the evening breeze.
Basil gently disengaged his arm from Barbara's waist and began playing
the slow movement of the Kreutzer Sonata very, very softly.
Suddenly, behind the tower of Chiswick Church, up leapt the great full
moon, turning the river to molten light, and flooding the Walk with
gold.
The Admiral and Mrs. Poskett hurried to the Gazebo--but that was full.
They turned to the seat under the elm--but that was occupied.
"Gobblessmysoul!" said the Admiral.
So they had to be content to stand very close together, watching the
river. And Sempronius came and rubbed his arched back against the
Admiral's legs. Jim and Nanette looked on from their door-steps in
amazement.
In his bow-window Doctor Sternroyd was gazing fondly at a faded
miniature, while with his other hand he raised a glass of punch on high.
"Araminta!" he sighed, and drank to her memory.
"Oh, Selina!" exclaimed Mr. Brooke-Hoskyn.