bed to Cleremont the repute of attempting to
dissuade my father from his project, attributed to Madame Cleremont a
most eager and warm advocacy of the intended _fete_. From the marked
coldness and reserve, however, which subsisted between my father and
her, it was too difficult to imagine in what way her influence could be
exercised.

And for my own part, though I heard the list of the company canvassed
every day at luncheon, and discussed at dinner, I don't remember
an occasion where Madame ever uttered a word of remark, or even a
suggestion in the matter. Hotham, who had come back on a short leave,
was full of the scheme. With all a sailor's love of movement and bustle,
he mixed himself up with every detail of it. He wrote to Paris and
London for all the delicacies of the "comestible" shops. He established
"estafettes" on every side to bring in fresh flowers and fruit; with
his own hands he rigged out tents and marquees for the regimental bands,
which were to be stationed in different parts of the grounds; and all
the devices of Bengal lights and fireworks he took into his especial
charge.

Indeed, Nixon told me that his functions did not stop here, but that he
had charged himself with the care of Madame Cleremont's toilette, for
whom he had ordered the most splendid ball-dress Paris could produce.
"Naturally, Master Digby, it is Sir Roger pays," added he; "and perhaps
one of these days he'll be surprised to find that diamond loops and
diamond bouquets should figure in a milliner's bill. But as she is to
receive the company, of course it's all right."

"And why does Mr. Cleremont seem to dislike it all so much?" asked I.

"Chiefly, I believe, because _she_ likes it." And then, as though he had
said more than he intended, he added: "Oh, it's easy to see he likes to
keep this house as much his own as he can. He does n't want Sir Roger
to have other people about him. He's almost the master here now; but
if your father begins to mix with the world, and have strangers here,
Cleremont's reign would soon be over."

Though there was much in this speech to suggest thought and speculation,
nothing in it struck me so forcibly as the impertinence of calling Mr.
Cleremont Cleremont, and it was all I could do to suppress the rebuke
that was on my lips.

"If your father comes through for a thousand pounds, sir," continued he,
"I 'll say he's lucky. If Sir Roger would leave it to one person to give
the orders,--I don't mean my