the biggest coward of them all, really, because he’s afwaid what people will think about him — and Julius doesn’t care about that.’

‘They’ve a lot of valour between them,’ said Gerald good-humouredly.

The Pussum looked at him with a slow, slow smile. She was very handsome, flushed, and confident in dreadful knowledge. Two little points of light glinted on Gerald’s eyes.

‘Why do they call you Pussum, because you’re like a cat?’ he asked her.

‘I expect so,’ she said.

The smile grew more intense on his face.

‘You are, rather; or a young, female panther.’