rret. It has high
hindquarters and walks with a curious jump, which I suppose is why it
got its name. I'm not sure it lives in Canada, and an American got
this one for me. I find natural history interesting."

Margaret Keith was known to be eccentric, and her companion laughed.
"I should imagine you found it expensive, and aren't some of the
creatures savage?"

"Millicent looks after them, and I always beat the sellers down.
Fortunately, I can afford to indulge in my caprices, and you can
consider this my latest fad if you like. I am subject to no claims,
and my means are hardly large enough to make me an object of interest
to sycophantic relatives."

"Is your companion fond of attending to wild animals?" Mrs. Ashborne
inquired. "I have wondered where you got her. You have had a number,
but she is different from the rest."

"I suppose you mean she is too good for the post?" Mrs. Keith
suggested. "However, I don't mind telling you that she is Eustace
Graham's daughter; you must have heard of him."

"Eustace Graham? Wasn't he in rather bad odour?--only tolerated on the
fringe of society? I seem to recollect some curious tales about him."

"Latterly he was outside the fringe; indeed, I don't know how he kept
on his feet so long, but he went downhill fast towards the end. A
plucker of plump pigeons, an expensive friend to smart young subalterns
and boys about town. Cards, bets, loans arranged, and that kind of
thing! All the same, he had his good points when I first knew him."

"But after such a life as his daughter must have led, do you consider
her a suitable person to take about with you? What do your friends
think? They have to receive her now and then."

"I can't say that I have much cause to respect my friends' opinions,
and I'm not afraid of the girl's contaminating me," Mrs. Keith replied.
"Besides, Millicent, who lost her mother early, lived with her aunts
until a few months before her father's death. I expect Eustace felt
more embarrassed than grateful when she came to take care of him, but,
to do him justice, he would see that none of the taint of his
surroundings rested on the girl. He did wrong, but I think he paid for
it, and it is better to be charitable."

She broke off, and glanced down at the big liner with cream-coloured
funnel that was slowly swinging across the stream as she resumed: "I
must send Millicent to buy our tickets for Montreal. The hotel will be
crowded before long