o
make you worse shall be done."

"Zanks, my best of friends," said the Baron, warmly, seizing his hand; "I
knew you would stand by me!"

Mr Bunker gave a little laugh, and returning the pressure, replied, "My
dear fellow, I'd do anything to oblige a friend in such an interesting
condition."

CHAPTER IV.

The Baron was a few minutes late in joining the party at lunch, and when
he appeared he held an open letter in his hand. It was only the middle of
the next day, and yet he could have sworn that last night he was
comparatively whole-hearted, he felt so very much more in love already.

"Yet anozzer introdogtion has found me out," he said as he took his seat.
"I have here a letter of invitation vich I do not zink I shall accept."

He threw an amorous glance at Lady Alicia, which her watchful mother
rightly interpreted as indicating the cause of his intended refusal.

"Who is it this time?" asked Mr Bunker.

"Sir Richard Brierley of Brierley Park, Dampshire. Is zat how you
pronounce it?"

"Sir Richard Brierley!" exclaimed the Countess; "why, Alicia and I are
going to visit some relatives of ours who live only six miles from
Brierley Park! When has he asked you, Baron?"

"Ze end of next week."

"How odd! We are going down to Dampshire at the end of next week too. You
must accept, Baron!"

"I shall!" exclaimed the overjoyed Baron. "Shall ve go, Bonker?"

"I'm not asked, I'm afraid."

"Ach, bot zat is nozzing. I shall tell him."

"As you please, Baron," replied Mr Bunker, with a half glance at Lady
Alicia.

The infatuated Baron had already begun to dread the inevitable hour of
separation, and this piece of good fortune put him into the highest
spirits. He felt so amiable towards the whole world that when the four
went out for a stroll in the afternoon he lingered for a minute by Lady
Grillyer's side, and in that minute Mr Bunker and Lady Alicia were out of
hail ahead. The Baron's face fell.

"Shall I come down to this place?" said Mr Bunker.

"Would you like to?"

"I should be sorry," he replied, "to part with--the Baron."

Lady Alicia had expected a slightly different ending to this sentence, and
so, to tell the truth, Mr Bunker had intended.

"Oh, if you can't stay away from the Baron, you had better go."

"It is certainly very hard to tear myself away from so charming a person
as the Baron; perhaps you can feel for me?"

"I think he is very--nice."

"He