d, "And pray,
my good man, how is your wife?"

"Quite well and hearty, at your ladyship's sarvice," replied my father;
"and, please your ladyship, these two be our children."

"Bless me, how interesting!" exclaimed another lady.

"And remarkably well bred 'uns," remarked a short gentleman in a
fox-hunting coat, examining Virginia through his eye-glass; "coxswain,
filly--dam, lady's maid."

"What is your name, child?" said Lady Hercules to Virginia.

"Virginia, ma'am," replied my sister, with a courtesy.

"You must say `Lady Hercules,' my dear," said my father, stooping down.

"My name is Virginia, Lady Hercules," replied my sister, courtesying
again.

"Indeed; then I suppose you are named after me?"

"Yes, your ladyship; hope no offence--but we did take the liberty,"
replied my father.

"And what is yours, boy?"

"Thomas, Lady Hercules," replied I, with a bow and scrape, after my
father's receipt for politeness.

"And where is your mother?" said Sir Hercules.

"Mother's at home, Lady Hercules," replied I, with another scrape.

"How _very_ interesting!" exclaimed one of the party. "Quite an event!"
said another. "A delightful _rencontre_!" cried a third. "How kind of
you, Lady Hercules, to give up your own maid! and such handsome
children," etcetera, etcetera. "It's really quite charming."

Lady Hercules was evidently much pleased, and she assumed the patroness.

"Well, little girl, since you have been named after me, out of gratitude
I must see what can be done for you. Tell your mother to come up to me
to-morrow at three o'clock, and bring you with her."

"Yes, Lady Hercules," replied Virginia, with a courtesy.

"And Saunders, you may as well come up at the same time, and bring your
lad with you," added Sir Hercules.

"Yes, your honour," replied my father, both he and I simultaneously
scraping the gravel.

"Wish your honour Sir Hercules, and your honourable lady, and all the
honourable company, a very good morning," continued my father, taking
Virginia and me by the hand to lead us away.

Sir Hercules touched his hat in return, and walked away as stiff as
usual; the pensioners who had witnessed the interview between him and my
father, concluding that Sir Hercules was a naval officer, now rose and
touched their hats to him as he walked with her ladyship in advance of
the party. We joined Anderson, who was sitting down at the other end of
the walk, when my father communicated to him what h