dear!" exclaimed Mr. Triggs in surprise.

"Yes," said Patricia, "it's no good denying it. Don't you like knowing
Lord Peter and Lady Tanagra, Mr. Elton and all the rest of them?"

"It's not because they're in Society," began Mr. Triggs.

"Oh, yes it is! You imagine that you are now a very great personage.
Soon you will be moving from Streatham into Park Lane, and then you
will not know me."

"Oh, me dear!" said Mr. Triggs in distress.

"It's no good denying it," continued Patricia. "Look at the way you
made friends with Lord Peter." Patricia was priding herself on the way
in which she had led the conversation round to Bowen; but Mr. Triggs
was not to be drawn.

"God bless my soul!" he cried, stopping still and removing his hat,
mopping his brow vigorously. "I don't mind whether anyone has a title
or not. It's just them I like. Now look at Lady Tanagra. No one
would think she was a lady."

"Really, Mr. Triggs! I shall tell her if you take her character away
in this manner. She's one of the most exquisitely bred people I have
ever met."

Mr. Triggs looked reproachfully at Patricia.

"It's a bit 'ard on a young gal when she finds 'er father drops 'is
aitches," he remarked, reverting to his daughter. "I often wonder
whether I was right in giving 'Ettie such an education. She went to an
'Igh School at Eastmouth," he added. "It only made 'er dissatisfied.
It was 'ard luck 'er 'aving me for a father," he concluded more to
himself than to Patricia.

"I am perfectly willing to adopt you as a father, Mr. Triggs, if you
are in want of adoption," said Patricia.

Mr. Triggs turned to her with a sunny smile.

"Ah! you're different, me dear. You see you're a lady born, same as
Lady Tanagra; but 'Ettie ain't. That's what makes 'er sensitive like.
It's a funny world," Mr. Triggs continued; "if you go about with one
boot, and you 'appen to be a duke, people make a fuss of you because
you're a character; but if you 'appen to be a builder and go about in
the same way they call you mad."

That evening Patricia was particularly unresponsive to Mr. Bolton's
attempts to engage her in conversation.

CHAPTER XVI

PATRICIA'S INCONSTANCY

Patricia's engagement and approaching marriage were the sole topics of
conversation at Galvin House, at meal-times in particular. Bowen was
discussed and admired from every angle and aspect. Questions rained
upon Patricia. When was she likely to get married? Where was