Parham,
shortly.

"Ah, that was when he was drunk!" said Kitty. "Then he wasn't
responsible."

Lord Parham and the circle laughed--though the Premier's laugh was a
little dry and perfunctory.

"So you worship nonsense, Lady Kitty?"

Kitty nodded sweetly.

"And so does William. Ah, here he is!"

For Ashe appeared, hurrying over the lawn, and Lord Parham rose to greet
his host.

"Upon my word, Ashe, how well you look! <i>You</i> have had some holiday!"

"Which is more than can be said of yourself," said Ashe, with smiling
sympathy. "Well!--how have the speeches gone? Is there anything left of
you? Edinburgh was magnificent!"

He wore his most radiant aspect as he sat down beside his guest; and
Kitty watching him, and already conscious of a renewed and excitable
dislike for her guest, thought William was overdoing it absurdly, and
grew still more restive.

The Premier brought the tips of his fingers lightly together, as he
resumed his seat.

"Oh! my dear fellow, people were very kind--too much so! Yes--I think it
did good--it did good. I should now rest and be thankful--if it weren't
for the Bishops!"

"The Bishops!" said the Rector of the parish standing near. "What have
the Bishops been doing, my lord?"

"Dying," said Kitty, as she fell into an attitude which commanded both
William and Lord Parham. "They do it on purpose."

"Another this morning!" said Ashe, throwing up his hands.

"Oh! they die to plague me," said the Prime Minister, with the air of
one on whom the universe weighs heavy. "There never was such a
conspiracy!"

"You should let William appoint them," said Kitty, leaning her chin upon
her hands and studying Lord Parham with eyes all the more brilliant for
the dark circles which fatigue, or something else, had drawn round them.

"Ah, to be sure!" said Lord Parham, affably. "I had forgotten that Ashe
was our theologian. Take me a walk before dinner!" he added, addressing
his host.

"But you won't take his advice," said Kitty, smiling.

The Premier turned rather sharply.

"How do you know that, Lady Kitty?"

Kitty hesitated--then said, with the prettiest, slightest laugh:

"Lady Parham has such strong views--hasn't she?--on Church questions!"

Lord Parham's feeling was that a more insidiously impertinent question
had never been put to him. He drew himself up.

"If she has, Lady Kitty, I can only say I know very little about them!
She very wisely keeps them to herself."

"Ah!"