d to answer."

Mr. Bonsor smiled sympathetically.

At lunch-time Patricia purchased a copy of _The Morning Post_, and
there saw in all its unblushing mendacity the announcement.

"A marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place between Lord
Peter Bowen, D.S.O., M.C., attached to the General Staff, son of the
7th Marquess of Meyfield, and Patricia Brent, daughter of the late John
Brent, of Little Milstead."

"Why on earth must the ridiculous people put it at the top of the
column?" she muttered aloud. A man occupying an adjoining table at the
place where she was lunching turned and looked at her.

"And now I must go back to potatoes, pigs, and babies," said Patricia
to herself as she paid her bill and rose. "Ugh!"

She had scarcely settled down to her afternoon's work when the maid
entered and announced, "Lord Peter Bowen to see you, miss."

"Oh bother!" exclaimed Patricia. "Tell him I'm busy, will you please?"

The maid's jaw dropped; she was excellently trained, but no
maid-servant could be expected to rise superior to such an
extraordinary attitude on the part of a newly-engaged girl. Nothing
short of a butler who had lived in the best families could have risen
to such an occasion.

"But, Miss Brent----" began Mr. Bonsor.

Patricia turned and froze him with a look.

"Will you give him my message, please, Fellers?" she said, and Fellers
walked out a disillusioned young woman.

Two minutes later Mrs. Bonsor entered the room, flushed and excited.

"Oh, Miss Brent, that silly girl has muddled up things somehow! Lord
Peter Bowen is waiting for you in the morning-room. I have just been
talking to him and saying that I hope you will both dine with us one
day next week."

"The message was quite correct, Mrs. Bonsor. I am very busy with pigs,
and babies, and potatoes. I really cannot add Lord Peter to my
responsibilities at the moment."

Mrs. Bonsor looked at Patricia as if she had suddenly gone mad.

"But Miss Brent-----" began Mrs. Bonsor, scandalised.

"I suppose I shall have to see him," said Patricia, rising with the air
of one who has to perform an unpleasant task. "I wish he'd stay at the
War Office and leave me to do my work. I suppose I shall have to write
to Lord Derby about it."

Mrs. Bonsor glanced at Mr. Bonsor, who, however, was busily engaged in
preparing an appropriate speech upon War Office methods, suggested by
Patricia's remark about Lord Derby.

As Patricia ent