fficult as not to like that one?'

She made him a smart little curtsey. 'Although we're going to have
luncheon in less than an hour, somebody was going to insist (out of pure
mistaken philanthropy) in taking me for a walk. I've told Freddy that
when I've departed for realms of bliss, he is to put on my tombstone,
"Died of changing her clothes." I know the end will come some Sunday. We
appear at breakfast dressed for church. That's a long skirt. We are
usually shooed upstairs directly we get back, to put on a short one, so
that we can go and look at the kennels or the prize bull. We come back
muddy and smelling of stables. We get into something fresh for luncheon.
After luncheon some one says, "Walk!" Another short skirt. We come back
draggled and dreadful. We change. Something sweetly feminine for tea!
The gong. We rush and dress for dinner! You've saved me one change,
anyhow. You are my benefactor. Why don't you ask after my babies?'

'Well, how are the young barbarians?' He rubbed his hand over the lower
part of his face. 'Your concern for personal appearance reminds me that
a little soap and water after my dusty drive----'

Little as had fallen from him since his entrance, as he followed Lord
John upstairs, he left behind that sense of blankness so curiously
independent of either words or deeds. Greatorex, in his patent leather
shoes and immaculate white gaiters, pattered over to Miss Levering, but
she unkindly presented her back, and sat down at the writing-table to
make a note on the abhorred Shelter plan. He showed his disapproval by
marching off with Mr. Freddy, and there was a general trickling back
into the garden in that aimless, before-luncheon mood.

But Mrs. Heriot and Lady John sat with their heads close together on the
sofa, discussing in undertones the absorbing subject of the prospective
new member of the family.

Mrs. Freddy perched on the edge of the writing-table between Miss
Levering, who sat in front of it, and Jean, whose chair was on the other
side. She was nearest Jean, but it was to her children's sworn friend
that she turned to say enthusiastically--

'Delightful his coming in like that!' And no one needed to be told whose
coming brought delight. 'We must tell Sara and Cecil.'

As Miss Levering seemed to be still absorbed in making notes on that
boring plan, the lively Mrs. Freddy turned to her other neighbour.

'Penny for your thoughts,' she demanded with such suddenness that Jean
Dun