ou Betty--our bewitching, our
incomparable, Our Admirable Betty!"

Up rose the company one and all and the long chamber echoed to the
toast:

"Our Admirable Betty!"

Ensued a moment's pause and every empty glass shivered to fragments on
the broad hearth. But now, as the clatter and hum and laughter broke
out anew, the Major, frowning a little, glanced across at the Viscount
and found him frowning also.

Courses came and went and ever the talk and laughter waxed louder and
merrier, glasses brimmed and were emptied, bottles made the circuit of
the table in unending procession; gentlemen pledged each other, toasts
were called and duly honoured; in the midst of which the Major feeling
a hand upon his shoulder glanced up into the face of the Viscount.

"Nunky," he murmured, "certain things considered, I'm minded for a
walk!" and with a smiling nod he turned and vanished among the bustling
throng of servants and waiting-men, as Sir Benjamin arose, portentous
of brow and with laced handkerchief a-flutter:

"Gentlemen," said he, glancing round upon the brilliant assembly,
"gentlemen, or should I rather say--fellow-martyrs of the rosy, roguish
archer----"

"Haw!" exclaimed the Captain. "Prime, Ben!"

"Hear, hear!" nodded Alvaston. "Good, Ben--doocid delicate 'n' the
bottle's with you, Jasper!"

"We are here, sirs," continued Sir Benjamin, bowing his
acknowledgments, "to sit unitedly in hem! in judgment upon the
individual compositions of the--the----"

"Field!" suggested the Marquis.

"Gang?" murmured Alvaston.

"Amorous brotherhood!" sighed Sir Jasper.

"Company, gentlemen, of the company. Versification affords a broad
field for achievement poetic since we have such various forms as the
rondel, ballade, pantoum--"

"O burn me, Ben," ejaculated Alvaston, "you're out there! What's
verses t' do with phantoms----"

"I said 'pantoum,' sir--besides which, gentlemen, we have the triolet,
the kyrielle, the virelai, the vilanelle----"

"O dem!" cried the Marquis, "sounds curst improper and villainous, too,
Ben." Cries of "Order, Ben, order----"

"And likewise O!" added Lord Alvaston.

"Eh?" exclaimed Sir Benjamin, "I say what----"

"None o' your French villainies, Ben," continued the Marquis, "we want
nothing smacking o' the tap-room, the stable or the kennel, Ben,
'twon't do! We must ha' nought to cause the blush o' shame----"

"No, Ben," added Alvaston, "nor yet t' 'ffend th' chastest ear----"

"Od