"Terribly hot--isn't it ?" This he addressed to the fat rector with whom he had brought himself into the closest contact.

"They've got this sofa into the worst possible part of the room; suppose we move it.

Take care, Madeline." The sofa had certainly been so placed that those who were behind it found great difficulty in getting out; there was but a narrow gangway, which one person could stop.

This was a bad arrangement, and one which Bertie thought it might be well to improve.
"Take care, Madeline," said he, and turning to the fat rector, added, "Just help me with a slight push." The rector's weight was resting on the sofa and unwittingly lent all its impetus to accelerate and increase the motion which Bertie intentionally originated.

The sofa rushed from its moorings and ran half-way into the middle of the room.