fluence of aristocratic connections. All that the young
folks stipulated for (and on that point their firmness was supernatural)
was that the marriage should be quiet, almost to the verge of secrecy.

"No beastly fuss," his lordship demanded. "Let it be somewhere in the
country, and no mob!" and his mother, thinking she understood his reason,
patted his cheek affectionately.

"I should like to go down to Aunt Jane's and be married quietly from
there," explained Miss Hodskiss to her father.

Aunt Jane resided on the outskirts of a small Hampshire village, and "sat
under" a clergyman famous throughout the neighbourhood for having lost
the roof to his mouth.

"You can't be married by that old fool," thundered her father--Mr.
Hodskiss always thundered; he thundered even his prayers.

"He christened me," urged Miss Clementina.

"And Lord knows what he called you. Nobody can understand a word he
says."

"I'd like him to marry me," reiterated Miss Clementina.

Neither her ladyship nor the contractor liked the idea. The latter in
particular had looked forward to a big function, chronicled at length in
all the newspapers. But after all, the marriage was the essential thing,
and perhaps, having regard to some foolish love passages that had
happened between Clementina and a certain penniless naval lieutenant,
ostentation might be out of place.

So in due course Clementina departed for Aunt Jane's, accompanied only by
her maid.

Quite a treasure was Miss Hodskiss's new maid.

"A clean, wholesome girl," said of her Contractor Hodskiss, who
cultivated affability towards the lower orders; "knows her place, and
talks sense. You keep that girl, Clemmy."

"Do you think she knows enough?" hazarded the maternal Hodskiss.

"Quite sufficient for any decent woman," retorted the contractor. "When
Clemmy wants painting and stuffing, it will be time enough for her to
think about getting one of your '_Ach Himmels_' or '_Mon Dieus_'."

"I like the girl myself immensely," agreed Clementina's mother. "You can
trust her, and she doesn't give herself airs."

Her praises reached even the countess, suffering severely at the moment
from the tyranny of an elderly Fraulein.

"I must see this treasure," thought the countess to herself. "I am tired
of these foreign minxes."

But no matter at what cunning hour her ladyship might call, the
"treasure" always happened for some reason or other to be abroad.

"Your girl is always out