r. In Patricia's remarks there was
the freshness of unconvention. The old political war-horses saw how
things appeared to an intelligent contemporary who was not trammelled
by tradition and parliamentary procedure.

Suddenly Patricia became aware that she had monopolised the
conversation and that everyone was listening to her. She flushed and
stopped.

"Please go on," said the Cabinet Minister; "don't stop, it's most
interesting."

But Patricia had become self-conscious. However, the Duke with great
tact picked up the thread, and soon the conversation became general.

As they rose from the table the Duke whispered to Patricia, "Don't
hurry away, please, I want to have a chat with you after the others
have gone."

As they went to the drawing-room, Lady Peggy came up to Patricia and
linking her arm in hers, said:

"I'm dreadfully afraid of you now, Patricia. Why everybody was
positively drinking in your words. Wherever did you learn so much?"

"You cannot be secretary to a rising politician," said Patricia with a
smile, "without learning a lot of statistics. I have to read up all
sorts of things about pigs and babies and beet-root and street-noises
and all sorts of objectionable things."

"What do you think of her, Goddy?" cried Lady Peggy to Elton as he
joined them.

"I'm afraid she has made me feel very ignorant," replied Elton. "Just
as you, Peggy, always make me feel very wise."

In the drawing-room the Serbian attached himself to Patricia and
produced his "map of obliteration," as the Duke had once called it,
explaining to her at great length how nearly all the towns and cities
in Europe were for the most part populated by Serbs.

It was obvious to her, from the respect with which she was treated,
that her remarks at luncheon had made a great impression.

When most of the other guests had departed, the Duke walked over to
her, and dismissing Peggy, entered into a long conversation on
political and parliamentary matters. He was finally interrupted by
Lady Peggy.

"Look here, Daddy, if you steal my friends I shall----" she paused,
then turning to Elton she said, "What shall I do, Goddy?"

"Well, you might marry and leave him," suggested Elton helpfully.

"That's it. I will marry and leave you all alone, Daddy."

"Cannot we agree to share Miss Brent?" suggested the Duke, smiling at
Patricia.

"Isn't he a dear?" enquired Lady Peggy of Patricia. "When other men
propose to me, and quite a