th one of
the Marigold girls, while I stop here and do the how-d'ye-do's."

The doctor, with a serious face, led His Grace aside.

"This appears to be a freak of the two young people," said he. "They
are the only members of the family at home. I am very sorry you have
been victimised."

"Tut, tut," said the duke, recovering his good-humour rapidly, "I don't
mean to be a victim at all. I mean to enjoy myself; so do you, doctor.
Girls," said he to his daughters, "you must see the youngsters through
this. Ha, ha! what is the rising generation coming to, to be sure."

Arrivals now began to drop in smartly, and as Tom looked round on the
gradually filling drawing-room, a mild perspiration broke out on his
ingenious brow.

Jill had gallantly struck up her polka on the piano, but as no one
listened and no one danced, she gave it up and returned to the support
of her brother.

"It's going splendidly," said Tom in a stage whisper; "they all seem to
be enjoying it."

They certainly were--for as each gradually took in the situation, and
received his cue from his neighbour, an unwonted air of humour permeated
the room.

A few hoity-toity persons of course felt outraged, and would have
ordered their carriages had there been any one to order them from. The
honest Raffles was, to tell the truth, secretly busy, on a signal from
Tom, preparing for the banquet in the dining-room, and no other servant
was to be seen.

"My dear," said Mrs Pottinger, in a severely audible voice to her
husband, "I wish to return home. Will you get our carriage? My ideas
of amusement do not correspond with those of the young people."

"Oh, don't go yet!" said Tom, with beaming face, for he had caught sight
of Raffles' powdered wig at the door; "there's some grub ready in the
next room. It would have been ready before, only the herrings--"

"Tom," said Jill, "there's the Bishop just come. He couldn't come for
Roger's birthday, you know."

"How do you do, Bishop?" said Tom, grasping the new arrival by the hand.
"Jolly you could come this time. I was just saying there's some grub
in the next room. Jill, Raff had better ring up on the gong, tell him."

Raffles accordingly sounded an alarm on the gong, which brought the
company to attention.

"Supper!" cried Tom encouragingly, and led the way, allowing the company
generally to sort themselves.

The Duke behaved nobly that night. He gallantly gave his arm to Jill,
and asked the Bisho