g with an unwonted brilliance, was
entertaining the Bradleys, the Phillipses, and the Robinsons.

"Didn't expect me, did you?" said Thaddeus, as he entered the room.

"No," said Bradley, dryly. "This is an unexpected pleasure. I
didn't even know you were a friend of the family."

"Well, I am," said Thaddeus. "One of the oldest friends I've got,
in fact, which is my sole excuse for keeping you waiting. Old
friends are privileged--eh, Mrs. Robinson?"

"Dinner is served," came a deep bass voice from the middle of the
doorway.

Thaddeus jumped as if he had seen a ghost, and, turning to see what
could have caused the strange metamorphosis in the soprano tremolo
of Mary's voice, was astonished to observe in the parting of the
portieres not the more or less portly Mary, but a huge, burly,
English-looking man, bowing in a most effective and graceful fashion
to Mrs. Bradley, and then straightening himself up into a pose as
rigid and uncompromising as that of a marble statue.

"What on earth--" began Thaddeus, with a startled look of inquiry at
Bessie. But she only shook her head, and put her finger to her
lips, enjoining silence, which Thaddeus, fortunately, had the good
sense to understand, even if his mind was not equal to the fathoming
of that other mystery, the pompous and totally unexpected butler.

But if Thaddeus was surprised to see the butler, he was amazed at
the dinner which the butler served. Surely, he thought, if Ellen
can prepare a dinner like this, she ought to be above taking sixteen
dollars and a home a month. It was simply a regal repast. The
oysters were delicious, and the puree was superior to anything
Thaddeus had ever eaten in the line of soups in his life--only it
was lobster puree, and ten times better than Ellen's general run of
celery puree. He winked his eye to denote his extreme satisfaction
to Bessie when he thought no one was looking, but was overwhelmed
with mortification when he observed that the wink had been seen by
the overpowering butler, who looked sternly at him, as much as to
say, "'Ow wery wulgar!"

"I must congratulate your cook upon her lobster puree, Mrs.
Perkins," said Mr. Phillips. "It is delicious."

"Yes," put in Thaddeus. "But you ought to taste her celery puree.
She is undoubtedly great on purees."

Bessie coughed slightly and shook her head at Thaddeus, and Thaddeus
thought he detected the germ of a smile upon the cold face of the
butler. He was not sure