en,
passing adroitly to less burning questions, she ended thus--

"Pray let Lady Calmady know how really _delighted everybody_ is to hear
she and Sir Richard will be up this season. I do trust, as I am such a
near neighbour, that if there is _anything_ I can do for her, either
now, or later when they are settling, she will not hesitate to let me
know. It would be such a _sincere_ pleasure to me. Mr. Barking is too
busy with tiresome, parliamentary committees to be able to allow
himself more than a week at Easter. I should be _thankful_ for a longer
rest, for I am feeling dreadfully fagged. But you know how
conscientious he always is; and of course one _must_ pay a certain
price for the confidence the leaders of one's party repose in one. So
do tell Lady Calmady we are _quite sure_ to be back immediately after
Easter."

Reading which sentences Mr. Quayle permitted himself a fine smile on
more than one count.

"Louisa reminds me of the sweet little poem of 'Bruce and the Spider,'"
he said to himself. "She displays heroic persistence. Her methods are a
trifle crude though. To provoke statements by making them is but a
primitive form of diplomacy. Yet why be hard upon Louisa? Like my poor,
dear father, she, more often than not, means well."

It followed that some few days later, on his return to Whitney, Ludovic
indited a voluminous letter to his sister, in his very best style. "It
is rather a waste," he reflected regretfully. "She will miss the
neatest points. The happiest turns of phrase will be lost upon Louisa!"
To recoup himself for which subjective loss the young man amused
himself by giving a very alarmist account of certain matters, though he
was constrained to admit the pleasing fact that Sir Richard and Lady
Calmady really had it in contemplation to go up to town somewhere about
Easter.

And, truth to tell, the main subject of Mr. Quayle's letter could
hardly be otherwise than disquieting, for it was undeniable that Lord
Shotover's debts were causing both himself and others serious
embarrassment at this period. There was nothing new in this, that young
nobleman's indebtedness being a permanent factor in his family's
financial situation. This spring his indebtedness had passed from the
chronic to the acute stage, that was all. With the consequence that it
became evident Lord Shotover's debts must be paid, or his relations
must submit to the annoyance of seeing him pass through the Bankruptcy
Court. Which of